MA Memorial Day Events Go Virtual

BOSTON, MA — The coronavirus crisis put a somber twist on Memorial Day this year, as families across the state have to pay their tributes apart. Towns and veterans organizations decided to take the commemorations virtual, to keep the sense of community on a day meant to bring people together.

Several towns canceled their Memorial Day parades early in the month and have opted into offering residents prerecorded ceremonies to watch on cable access channels and livestreams online. While most tributes are scheduled for Monday, the Soldiers' Homes in Holyoke and Chelsea held their tributes earlier. The Chelsea home held virtual services on Thursday and the Holyoke home held services on Friday. Both tributes were livestreamed on the organizations' Facebook pages and will stay up after Memorial Day.

The Massachusetts National Guard will share its Memorial Day services over a livestream on Monday. The tribute will include speakers and musical performers from across the Commonwealth, remarks by Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito, Legislative leaders, and a special “Tribute to the Fallen” by the Massachusetts National Guard.

“We are deeply grateful to all service members past and present who bravely served our country, and as we mark Memorial Day, we pay special tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in their service to protect us and ensure our freedom,” Gov. Charlie Baker said in a statement. “During this difficult time, it is important that we honor and remember them, and share our gratitude and deep respect for their courage.”

To continue to pay tribute at a distance, buildings, bridges, flags and parks across the state will be illuminated on Sunday night in gold to honor Gold Star Families. The Department of Veterans’ Services teamed up with MassDOT, building managers and Veteran Service Organizations in towns across the Commonwealth for the special sight.

A full list of locations that will be illuminated in gold is available on the state's Memorial Day website — locations include Boston City Hall, the Prudential Tower, the Soldiers' Home in Chelsea and the Kenneth F. Burns Memorial Bridge in Worcester.

In Boston, the Massachusetts Fallen Heroes has moved its tribute to a Facebook livestream scheduled for Sunday. Wreaths and flags were still placed on the Massachusetts Fallen Heroes Memorial in Boston. A military flyover is slated to pass the organizations' memorial in Boston on Monday.

Worcester is a hosting virtual Memorial Day ceremony on Monday — residents can watch the Memorial Day ceremonies on the Worcester government channel and on the city's Facebook page. This year's event will include a tour of the under-renovation World War I memorial at Green Hill Park, which officials say will be completed soon.

Shrewsbury is using a prerecorded Memorial Day program to honor the fallen on Monday. The program will be available on the town Facebook page for the livestream and YouTube all day. A group of Girl Scouts in town helped DPW workers place flags on the graves at Mountain View cemetery on Wednesday, to pay tribute to fallen veterans.

Starting in Newton, a socially distanced car procession will be held on Monday to honor fallen heroes. The St. Mary of Carmen Society, the Nonantum Children's Christmas Party Association, the Nonantum American Legion Post 440 and the Nontntum Neighborhood Association are all banding together to drive around Newton, Watertown and Waltham on Memorial Day. The Nonantum "Rolling Memorial," will begin at 1 p.m. The Newton Sons of American Legion also placed some 230 flags over 23 bridges between Newton, Weston, and Needham.

Danvers will hold a virtual Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday as well to be broadcast on the Danvers Community Access Television channel following a ROLLING CARAVAN. The program will include bagpipes, Alarm List volleys, the Danvers High School Band playing the Star Spangled Banner, and a special talk of Danvers Memories by the Town Archivist Richard Trask. The ceremony will be available on the DCAT’s YouTube Channel, and Facebook Page.

Westwood's virtual ceremonies will be aired on Monday on Westwood Media Center, Comcast (channels 8 & 12) and Verizon (channels 32 & 42), and on Westwood Media Center YouTube. The virtual ceremony will include speeches, music and a special recognition to Mrs. Christine Devlin, Gold Star Mother, and Mr. Harry Aaron, Grand Marshall.

Salem officials and veterans will livestream a Memorial Day service from Greenlawn Cemetery on Monday from the town Facebook page. Speakers will include Mayor Kim Driscoll, state Sen. Joan Lovely and Dr. Donna Seger, the chairperson of the history department at Salem State University.

The annual Memorial Day observance in Chelmsford was held earlier this week but recorded to be shared online in an effort to help keep people safe amid the coronavirus. ChelmsfordTV recorded the ceremony on May 20. Speakers included Merrimack Valley Vietnam Veterans, Chelmsford Select Board member and a state representative.