The Memorial Day Parade, Ceremonies and Program

The Sudbury Memorial Day Parade, Heritage Park Ceremonies, and Hosmer House Program are held on the last Monday in May. Come, be in the Parade, march with us as we visit all the War Memorials in Sudbury. Watch the Sudbury Companies of Militia and Minute, Company F, 12th Georgia Infantry and the American Legion fire musket and rifle salutes. Come salute a Sudbury legend: 2012 Parade Marshal Ed Kreitsek, WWII soldier, Korean War Air Force officer, Sudbury Selectman and co-founder of Buddy Dog.  Come visit the Militaria displays in the Hosmer House and sit in an armored HUMVEE and armored LMTV provided by the MA Army National Guard, 1060^th Transportation BN in Framingham.

 The Sudbury Memorial Day Parade, Ceremonies, and Program are held on the last Monday in May. This year the date is May 28. The parade and ceremonies honor veterans of all wars that involved Sudbury residents starting with King Philip’s War in 1676 thru today’s conflicts in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Parade Schedule and Events

Parade Schedule:
The main part of the Parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. at Rugged Bear Plaza, where local Politicians Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and a delegation of Native Americans will join veteran’s organizations; the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Sudbury Companies of Militia and Minute, the Sudbury Ancient Fyfe and Drum Companies and Company F, 12th Georgia Infantry.

The Parade marches east along Route 20 then north on Concord Road, at Hop Brook a Maritime Ceremony will be held but the Parade will not stop at Hop Brook. The parade continues up Concord Road with stops at the Civil War Monument at the Goodnow Library, the Wadsworth Monument (King Philip War) and the World War II, Korean and Vietnam Memorials at Wadsworth Cemetery.

Cub Scouts and Brownies then join the parade at Our Lady of Fatima, as the Parade continues north up Concord Rd.  The Parade moves to the World War I Monument at Grinnell Park in the town center at 11:00 am. The Gold Star Flag will be raised at Veterans Park, by the Parade Marshal to signify the community losses of its sons in the recent conflicts. The Parade will then exit the Veterans Park and continue east down Old Sudbury Road to Heritage Park and the 911 Memorial where 911 and the current conflicts will be remembered.
Musket and Rifle salutes will be fired at each stop by the Sudbury Companies of Militia and Minute, Company F, 12th Georgia Infantry and the American Legion.

Veterans Invited:
All veterans are invited to join in the line of march at Rugged Bear Plaza. Uniforms are not required. Civilian clothes which respect the dignity of the occasion (dark slacks, white dress shirt, and hat that identifies your branch of service or veterans' organization are appropriate).
Transportation will be provided for those who wish to participate but feel they are not capable of marching along.

Heritage Park Activities:
The Memorial Day Program begins at Heritage Park at 11:30 a.m. The names of Sudbury veterans who died since last Memorial Day are read aloud. Musical selections are performed by the Sudbury Ancient Fyfe and Drum Companies, followed by greetings from Ed Kreitsek, Parade Marshal, Gold Star Family and local political leaders. There will also be trumpet selections and bugle calls by Robert Coe. New this year, is the United Native American Council will perform their ritual for remembering their warriors at the town center. The Council has been doing this ceremony for over 30 years at Wadsworth Monument and for the first time will be doing it as part of the Town Center program. This will allow all the scouts and other parade watchers who have never seen this service an opportunity to witness their unique ceremony.

Armored HUMVEE and Armored LMTV will be on display in front of Town Hall. Come over and sit in a HUMVEE, take pictures and kick the tires on one tough truck!

Hot dogs and sodas will be served to Parade participants by the American Legion in Heritage Park.

Parade Route and Schedule:
  7:30 a.m. Revolutionary War Memorial Tribute

  8:30 a.m. Commemorative ceremonies at Old North Cemetery and New North Cemetery

  9:00 a.m. Parade assembles at Rugged Bear Plaza
  9:30 a.m. Parade begins at Rugged Bear Plaza
                    Maritime Ceremony at Hop Brook (on the march!)
  9:50 a.m. Civil War Monument at Goodnow Library
10:00 a.m. King Philip Monuments at Wadsworth Cemetery

                    (Colonel Bonazzoli Salute: Minute and Militia)

10:25 a.m. WW II, Korea, and Vietnam
10:45 a.m. Brownies and Cubs enter at Our Lady of Fatima
11:00 a.m. WWI and Gold Star Ceremonies at Grinnell Park at Town Center
11:20 a.m. 911 Memorial, Memorial Garden

11:30 a.m. Program begins in Heritage Park

11:40 a.m. Revolutionary War Memorial Tribute
11: 45 a.m. “Song and Dance of Peace” Native American Council

Activities at Sudbury Town Center:
10:00 a.m. Hosmer House opens to public
11:00 a.m. WWI and Gold Star Ceremonies at Grinnell Park
11:00 a.m. Display of Armored HUMVEE and LMTV

11:30 a.m. Program begins in Heritage Park

11:40 a.m. Revolutionary War Memorial Tribute

11: 45 a.m. “Song and Dance of Peace” United Native American Council

Hosmer House
The Historic Hosmer House is open to the public from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. There will be collections of Militaria on display in the upstairs ballroom.