Foxborough to Hold Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony Monday Morning

From the town of Foxborough:

Foxborough’s observance of Memorial Day 2015 will feature the usual parade and a keynote from a United States Army Nurse Corps colonel.

The celebration will start off with the marchers in the parade assembling in the parking lot of TD Bank at 54 Central Street at 8:45 am. The parade will kick off at 9:00am and proceed north down Central Street to circle the common. The Scouting units, the Foxborough Police and Fire Departments will stand in formation in front of the Common while the speakers, distinguished guests, memorial wreath layers, members of the Foxborough High School Band and the members of the Color and Honor Guards will proceed into the Common to their designated locations.

Michael Johns, Foxborough’s Veterans Services Officer, will be the Master of Ceremonies for the event. Mr. Johns will introduce Father Steve Madden of Foxborough’s Saint Mary’s Church for the Invocation and then will introduce the seated dignitaries some of whom may make some brief remarks. Mike Johns will also introduce Mr. John Gaetani, the recipient of this year’s Foxborough Veterans Service Award.

The Keynote speaker for the event will be Colonel Susan Luz, United States Army Nurse Corps. Colonel Luz is the highest-ranking soldier in the 399th Combat Support Hospital, an Army Reserve unit based out of Massachusetts. Colonel Luz is the 2007 recipient of the Bronze Star and the 2010 recipient of the Legion of Merit. Colonel Luz is also the author of the “Nightingale of Mosul: A Nurse’s Journey of Service, Struggle and War”.

Memorial wreaths will be placed in front of each of the Foxboro War Memorials after which time the roster of the names of Foxborough honored Veterans who have passed since last Labor Day will be read.

The Foxborough High School Band, under the direction of Stephen Massey, will play the National Anthem followed by Jessica Erving a junior at Foxborough High School who will be singing My Country Tis of Thee.

Reverend Bill Dudley of South Foxborough’s Union Church will be performing the Benediction and the event will conclude with the playing of Echo Taps by two of Foxborough High School’s Band Buglers.