Acton's Memorial Day Parade

Acton residents were treated to an inspiring Memorial Day parade on Monday morning. Hundreds of spectators and participants lined Main Street to view the procession from the high school to Woodlawn cemetery on Concord Road. 

Parade members included traditional community groups from bright-eyed Girl Scout  Brownie troops and energetic Cub Scout packs to veterans who were both participants and honorees.  Entertainment was provided by the RJ Grey junior high school band and the award-winning Acton-Boxborough High School Marching Colonials.  Both bands  performed with spirit befitting the occasion.  The Grand Marshall for this year’s parade was Allen Nelson, a veteran and longtime member of the community, whom many may know as the owner of Cucurbit Farm in Acton. 

The parade stopped at the town center to allow the laying wreaths at the monuments to honor those Acton residents who served and died in WWII, Korea, Vietnam as well as, more recently, in Iraq and Afghanistan.  After a wonderful prayer by Fr. Walter Woods, pastor of St. Elizabeth’s church, the procession resumed down Concord Road to the cemetery. There the most solemn remembrance took place.  Those who gave their lives for our country were recognized.  The names of each person who had given his life in service to our country were read. This was followed by additional prayers, a musket volley, and, finally, a beautiful rendition of Taps by trumpeters from the high school band.

Rebecca and Josh Bregman and their children, Sam, 7, Lexi, 4 and Jack, 2, were among the spectators waiting for the parade to pass by the fire station in Acton center. Rebecca stated that she and Josh "decided to go watch the parade to celebrate Memorial Day with our community. We thought the kids would enjoy feeling part of it." When asked if they did, she shared that "Jack absolutely loved the fire trucks and police vehicles, Lexi thought it was too short....and Sam just took it all in."