Somerville Veterans' Memorial Parade 2018 Guide

SOMERVILLE, MA – The 2018 Somerville Veterans Memorial Parade is ready to go for another amazing tribute to our heroes on Sunday, May 20, beginning at 3 p.m. from Somerville City Hall.

This will be second year that the parade has been moved from the traditional Sunday on Memorial Day Weekend slot to the Armed Services Weekend, celebrated during the third weekend in May. The Parade also kicks off Memorial Week in Somerville, which includes additional events to honor the City’s veterans.

The 2018 parade will have 87 units, including Somerville officials, community groups and organizations, the Somerville Police and Fire Departments, local, regional, and national veterans’ organizations and members from each of the armed service branches, and much more. The parade route continues along Highland Ave. through Davis Sq., ending at the intersection of Holland St. and Broadway in Teele Sq. A viewing stand will be set up in the heart of Davis Square.

Grand Marshall

The 2018 Somerville Veterans’ Memorial Parade Grand Marshall is Sean Horgan. Marine Corps Veteran Sean Horgan is proud to call Somerville home and lives with his family in the Davis Square area. Sean is involved in an organization called Team Rubicon that unites the skills and experiences of military Veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams to areas in need of disaster relief. He is also an active member of the Greater Boston Veteran’s Collaborative which brings together Veteranservice provider to streamline outreach processes and create a positive working relationship with those providers to ensure all Veterans receive the benefits and services they deserve. Sean recently deployed with Veterans from Massachusetts to aid victims of Hurricane Harvey in Texas. In November 2017, he was named the Somerville Veteran of the year for his many acts of selfless devotion to his fellow Veterans and their families.

The Aleppo Shriners

The Aleppo Shriners return as a parade highlight to help honor the service and sacrifice of so many who have served our country. This display of more than 20 units, a parade favorite throughout the region, entertains crowds of thousands throughout New England each year as they bring awareness to its great philanthropy, the Shriners Hospitals for Children.

The following streets will have parking restrictions from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and street closures beginning at approximately 9:30 a.m.

• Highland Ave. (Walnut St. to School St.)

• Prescott St.

• Putnam St.

• Vinal Ave.

• School St. (Montrose St. to Highland Ave.)

• Walnut St. (Medford St. to Highland Ave.)

• College Ave. (Morrison Ave. to Davis Sq.)

Beginning at 1 p.m., parking restrictions will apply in the following areas, and streets will be closed as the parade passes beginning at approximately 3 p.m.:

• Highland Ave. (Walnut St. to Davis Sq.)

• Holland St. (Davis Sq. to Teele Sq.)

• Broadway (Holland St. to Route 16)

Additionally, beginning at 8 a.m., Highland Ave. will be closed between School St. and Sycamore St. for American Legion Post #19’s annual Memorial Ceremony.

The Number 88 MBTA bus route to and from Clarendon Hill will not be running from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For a full list and route revisions, visit mbta.com.

All roads will re-open at approximately 6 p.m.

Announcement courtesy of city of Somerville; Image via Shutterstock