Memorial Day 2019: Parade, Veterans Ceremony, Carnival Planned

ANNE ARUNDEL, MD — Anne Arundel County residents searching for something festive and fun to do this holiday weekend can check out any of the activities listed below in communities across the county. There are special ceremonies honoring veterans, memorial walks, outdoor concerts and a carnival — and don't forget the big Memorial Day parade in Annapolis.

The annual Memorial Day Parade in downtown historic Annapolis will start at Amos Garrett Boulevard at 10 a.m. Monday, May 27. It will proceed down West Street to Church Circle, then on to Main Street to City Dock. Following the parade, there will be an annual Memorial Day ceremony held at Susan Campbell Park.

At City Dock, Mayor Gavin Buckley will lead the annual wreath-laying ceremony, which is open to the public. Grand Marshall Raymond Finkle will direct the parade procession. There will be rolling road closures along the parade route the morning of the parade.

"We owe a debt of gratitude to the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in serving their country," Buckley said in a statement. "We can never fully repay that debt of gratitude, but we can honor their sacrifice with a day of recognition."

In honor of veterans and first responders from the area, the Crofton Rotary, Crofton Kiwanis and the Arundel Volunteer Fire Department will be holding a special recognition event called Flags for Heroes where flags will be displayed around Lake Louise off Route 3 through Memorial Day. Some flags feature the name of a veteran or first responder being honored in time for the holiday weekend. Proceeds from this event will go toward the Arundel Volunteer Fire Department's refurbishment of the old fire house (the "White Building") so that it can be used for training and as a community center.

Nature is beckoning this Memorial Day Weekend as Sandy Point State Park hosts a Memorial Day scavenger hunt. Participants will learn about all of the interesting things that can be found all throughout the park for this spring-themed event. The nature hunt will kick off at the nature center at South Beach Plaza at 11 a.m. Memorial Day. Advanced registration is not required but there will be a park entrance fee of $5 per person charged.

The Anne Arundel Veterans Affairs Commission will be honoring veterans at the Maryland World War II Memorial overlooking the Severn River, Annapolis and the U.S. Naval Academy Memorial Day. The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. and feature Bill Alli, a Marine Corps Korean War veteran. Following the ceremony will be a special reception held at American Legion Post 141 at 1707 Forest Dr. in Annapolis. Autographed copies of Alli's memoir "Too Young for a Forgettable War" will be available for purchase at the reception.

Many area pools kick off the swimming season by opening on Memorial Day. The Kenneth R. Dunn Municipal Pool at Truxtun Park will open May 25 for the summer season. It is located at 251 Pump House Road in Annapolis.

Mayo Beach will open Memorial Day and remain accessible until Labor Day. The beach is free and open to the community from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mayo Beach and park is located at 4150 Honeysuckle Dr. in Edgewater.

The Odenton Volunteer Fire Company will not hold its annual parade this weekend it announced, but the carnival will go on as planned. The festivities begin at 4 p.m. on Memorial Day. The carnival will be held at 1425 Annapolis Rd. All-you-can-ride bracelets are available for purchase at the event.