Wakefield's Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony

The American Legion will once again be putting on a parade and a program to honor U.S. Veterans on Memorial Day, Monday, May 28, 2012. 

Parade
The parade begins at 1 p.m. from the parking lot at Galvin Middle School. The parade will travel down Main Street to the new World War II Memorial located at Veteran's Memorial Park (the former upper common). 

Marching in the parade will be the Wakefield High School band, members of the American Legion holding flags and rifles, boy and girl scouts, and a fire engine from the Wakefield Fire Department. 

Ceremony
The program begins at 1:30 p.m. in front of the World War II Memorial. Keynoting the program is Milton Laschus, a member of the U.S. Military and a member of the Middlesex County American Legion. Also making remarks at the ceremony will be State Senator Katherine Clark, Representatives Paul Brodeur and Donald Wong, and Board of Selectman Chairman Betsy Sheeran. Father Bob Gianni of St. Florence's Church will give the Benediction, and there will be performances of "The Star-Spangled Banner" by WHS student Mackenzie Mildram, Taps by Michael Russo and Michael Mouradian, and "God Bless America" by the Wakefield High School band. 

World War II Memorial
This year's ceremony will also feature the unveilling of a new bronze plaque to recognize the major donors to the World War II Memorial.

The town's new World War II Memorial, with its five granite monument tablets and bronze plaques, was built last fall to replace the wooden memorial erected in 1944. It was officially dedicated on November 11, 2011 during the Veterans' Day ceremonies.

It includes a center bronze tablet with the names of the 72 Wakefield citizens who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country in World War II. The remaining tablets include the names of the 2,469 other men and women who served their country during the war.

The memorial's Walk of Remembrance is lined with granite pavers inscribed with the name, rank and branch of service of a sponsored service man or woman who has served, or is currently serving, in the Armed Forces, regardless of the date of service or Wakefield residency.

More than 100 additional pavers will also be unveiled on the Walk of Remembrance. Several hundred pavers were officially dedicated at the previous ceremony. A limited number of pavers are still available for Veterans and families of Veterans to sponsor.