Memorial Day Parade, Activities and Ceremonies in Sudbury

An American Hometown Tradition 2015 Memorial Day Parade

The Sudbury Memorial Day Parade, Heritage Park Ceremonies, and Hosmer House Program are all being held on Monday, May 25.

Residents are invited to march in the parade and visit all the war memorials together in Sudbury. The Sudbury Companies of Militia and Minute, Company F, 12th Georgia Infantry and the American Legion fire musket and rifle salutes at the sites. There are also militaria displays at the Hosmer House, and folks are welcome to sit in an armored HUMVEE provided by the Army National Guard.

This parade and ceremony honors all veterans of wars that involved Sudbury residents stemming back to King Phillip’s War in 1676.

According to Sudbury’s town site, here is the parade schedule and information:

The main part of the parade begins 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, 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 Sudbury Police Chief Scott Nix, the Parade Marshal and US Marine veteran, to signify the community loss of two sons in the recent conflicts. The Parade will conclude at this point due to construction in Heritage Park. 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 Activities begins at Heritage Park at 10 a.m. The Hosmer House, Sudbury Center, will be open from 10 am till 2 pm. The parlor will have a display recognizing town employees, school employees and those who worked on various committees who died in 2014. The ballroom will have a display prepared by the family of Lt. Scott Milley honoring Scott and War Veterans of Sudbury. The Hosmer House store will open selling cup plate, dolls, ornaments, books, and the popular Sudbury throws that feature historical buildings of Sudbury. Refreshments will be served and entrance is free of charge. The Sudbury Historical Commission welcomes all to visit the Hosmer House.

Grinnell/Veterans Park Program starts immediately after the conclusion of the parade. The names of Sudbury veterans who have passed since last Memorial Day are read aloud. Musical selections are performed by the Sudbury Ancient Fyfe and Drum Companies, followed by greetings from Chief Scott Nix, Parade Marshal, Gold Star Family and local political leaders. There will also be trumpet selections and bugle calls by Robert Coe. 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 we thank them for preforming it a second time 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.

Parade Route and Schedule
7:30 a.m. Revolutionary War Memorial Tribute, Mount Pleasant Cemetery OIF/OEF Memorial Tributes at 911 Memorial, Heritage Park
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
9:50 a.m. Civil War Monument at Goodnow Library
10:00 a.m. WW II, Korea, and Vietnam
10:25 a.m. Colonel Bonazzoli Salute/Wadsworth Monument Salute
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
11:30a.m. Parade ends; Grinnell Park Program begins

Activities at Sudbury Town Center
10:00 a.m. Hosmer House opens to public: will have a display recognizing town employees, school employees and those who worked on various committees who died in 2014. The ballroom will have a display prepared by the family of Lt. Scott Milley honoring Scott and War Veterans of Sudbury.
11:00 a.m. WWI and Gold Star Ceremonies at Grinnell Park at Town Center
11:00 a.m. Display of Armored HUMVEE and LMTV
11:30 a.m. Program begins in Grinnell/Veterans Park
11:40 a.m. “Song and Dance of Peace” Native American Council