Danvers Memorial Day Parade, Town Hall Ceremony Return For 2022

DANVERS, MA — Danvers Veterans' Services will host a parade and ceremony to honor all of the town's veterans on Memorial Day for the first time since 2019 after the COVID-19 health crisis caused events to be altered the past two years.

The parade will begin at Town Hall at 9 a.m. and will follow the traditional route of previous years. There will be stops to place wreaths at Porter Cemetary on High Street and the Memorial Flagpole site in Danvers Square.

All veterans are invited to march in the parade. For those unable to march, an accessible trolley will be available at Town Hall.

U.S. Army veteran Richard Greenlaw is this year's grand marshal. He earned the Korea Defense Service Medal while serving his country in Vietnam.

"We are so very fortunate to live in a community where the sacrifices of our soldiers have not been forgotten," Danvers Veterans' Council President Dick Moody said. "The people of Danvers are encouraged to pay tribute to the patriotism these brave men and women showed in their efforts to honor our country's freedom."

The public is also invited to the ceremony that will take place in front of Town Hall about 10 a.m. after the parade where the Danvers High School Marching Band and Chamber Singers will perform.

Retired U.S. Navy chaplain Michael J. Doyle, who is also a pastor at St. Mary of the Annunciation Church, will be the guest speaker.

"Memorial Day is about gratitude and remembrance and an opportunity to honor the men and women who have paid the ultimate price while serving our country at home and abroad," Danvers Director of Veterans' Services Kelley Rayos-Teixeira. "We are delighted to resume our traditional Memorial Day events after a two-year hiatus caused by the pandemic and look forward to a great turnout."

In case of poor weather, a cancelation notice will be posted by 7 a.m. on May 30.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)