Woburn Memorial Day Parade: Your Complete Guide

Photo Credit: Joe Lipovich, Patch Staff

WOBURN, MA—The week of Memorial Day is a time-honored tradition across the country, but more importantly here in Woburn.

During the Memorial Day Parade,  the Chief Marshall will be Commander Mike Downs of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 543, and Commander Dave Epps of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 88 will serve as the Parade's Chief of Staff.

The parade starts at the Armory and will march to Woburn Common for a ceremony and then proceed to Woodbrook Cemetery for another ceremony. A bus will then take the parade to the East Woburn Fire station, and the parade will march to Calvary Cemetery with stops at Jewish Cemetery and Knights of Columbus Memorial.

The parade begins at 8:45 a.m. Here are some parade details, courtesy of the Woburn Department of Veteran's services

Here is the line-up for the parade. 

First Division

• Chief Marshall: Veterans of Foreign Wars - VFW Post 543, Commander Mike Downs

• Chief of Staff: Disabled American Veterans – DAV Chapter 88, Commander Dave Epps

• Honor Guard: Woburn Police Department

• Woburn City Band

• Honor Guard: Woburn Fire Department

• City and State Officials and Guests of Honor

Second Division

• Veterans of Foreign Wars - VFW Post 543

• Disabled American Veterans – DAV Chapter 88

• American Legion Post 101

• Marine Corps League – Woburn Leatherneck Detachment

• Veterans in cars

• American Legion Post 101 Ladies Auxiliary

Third Division

• Woburn High School Band

• Elks Lodge #908

• Knights of Columbus Council #77

• Loyal Order of Moose

• Masons

• Woburn Little League Boys and Girls

• Girl Scouts

• Boy Scouts

• Boys and Girls Club

• Fire Department Protective Unit

Here is the itinerary of the day, including each of the parade stops:

Woburn Common - 8:45 AM

• Posting of Colors – All Units

• Flag Raising – William Murray, Dave Epps and Michael Downs

• Opening Prayer – Deacon Phil Hardcastle

• Selection: Woburn City Band – Armed Forces Medley sung by Joanne Campbell

• Governor’s Proclamation – Read by WMHS student

• Selection: Woburn Memorial High School Band

• “God Bless America” sung by Joanne Campbell

• Comments by the Mayor of the City of Woburn, the Honorable Scott Galvin

• Roll Call: read by George Poole, Commander of the United Veteran’s Council

• Comments about the 100th Anniversary of WWI by Woburn Historical Society’s Kathy Lucero (just appointed to

the WWI Centennial Commission for Massachusetts)

• Benediction – Deacon Phil Hardcastle

• Firing of volley by the Marine Corps League

• Taps by the city band, “National Anthem” by combined bands, “Star Spangled Banner”

• Please join us as we march to Woodbrook Cemetery

Woodbrook Cemetery – Soldier’s Lot Common – 9:25 AM

• Posting of the Colors

• Opening Prayer – Deacon Phil Hardcastle

• Selection by the Woburn City Band and Joanne Campbell

• Reading of General Logan’s Order by WMHS student

• Selection by the Woburn Memorial High School Band

• Comments by the City of Woburn Veteran’s Agent Larry Guiseppe

• Benediction – Deacon Phil Hardcastle

• Firing of the volley by the Marine Corps League

• Taps by the city band and “National Anthem” by combined bands, “Star Spangled Banner”

• All are welcome to join us – we are now driving over to the East Woburn Fire Station for a brief respite and then

we march on to the Jewish/Calvary Cemeteries

Jewish Cemetery – 10:25 AM

• Prayer by Temple Shalom Emeth – Ben Silver

• Selection: “America the Beautiful” sung by Joanne Campbell

• Roll Call

• Taps

K of C Flag Pole – Calvary Cemetery 10:30 AM - Taps

Cross at Calvary – 10:45 AM

• Posting of Colors – All Units

• Opening Prayer – Deacon Phil Hardcastle

• Selection: Woburn City Band/Joanne Campbell

• Selection: Woburn Memorial High School Band

• Reading – the Honorable Mayor Scott D. Galvin

• Comments by the City of Woburn Veteran’s Agent Larry Guiseppe

• Benediction – Deacon Phil Hardcastle

• Firing of volley by the Marine Corps League

• Taps by the Woburn City Band

• “National Anthem” by combined bands, “Star Spangled Banner”