Cambridge Memorial Day Parade, Cannon Salute, What To Know

CAMBRIDGE, MA — If you wake up on Monday, May 28 to what you think sounds like a cannon, well, good guess, because that's just exactly what it will be.

The annual Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 28 will begin with a cannon salute at 9:30 a.m. by the MA Bicentennial Battery on the Cambridge Common and proceed through Harvard Square, up Mount Auburn Street to Coolidge Avenue, and conclude at the Cambridge Cemetery on Coolidge Avenue.

Cambridge Mayor Marc McGovern and CVO President Philip Anderson will MC the event.

Veterans’ groups, elected officials, police and firefighters, color guards, bands, drill teams and youth organizations will all march along the parade route. The parade procession should end up at the Cambridge Cemetery around 11 a.m., where an observance will be held.

CVO President Philip Anderson will serve as Master of Ceremonies. CVO Chaplain Zelma Bostick will give the Invocation and Benediction.

Mayor Marc McGovern will give the official greetings to the city. Amigos School 4th graders will lead the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and a CRLS Drama student will read the Governor's Memorial Day Proclamation. In addition, a CRLS student vocalist will sing the National Anthem, America the Beautiful and God Bless America. Bagpiper, Edward O’Callaghan will Play “Amazing Grace.”

The CVO Rifle team along with the Massachusetts Bicentennial Battery will render a rifle salute, and Bugler, Robinson Pyle will blow “TAPS.” Following that, the Women's Auxiliary of the Veterans’ of Foreign Wars accompanied by local elected officials will hold a brief memorial ceremony at the Weeks Bridge in honor of the Cambridge servicemen and women who were lost at sea.

The public is cordially invited to attend all of the Memorial Day events and activities. Immediately following the day’s events, a collation, hosted by the Cambridge Veterans' Organization will be held at the VFW Mt. Auburn Post, #8818, located at 688 Huron Avenue, Cambridge.

What's open, closed?

Cambridge city offices, libraries, and senior centers will be closed.

Meter are free.

No trash, recycling, or compost pickup, and no street cleaning. (delayed a day).

Regularly scheduled street cleaning routes for May 28 will be swept on May 29.

The offices at the Cambridge Cemetery, 76 Coolidge Avenue, will be closed on the holiday, however the gates will be open from dawn to dusk.

Residents can find their curbside collections and street cleaning schedules by entering their address in the “My Cambridge Schedule” tool found at www.CambridgeMA.gov/theworks.

Photo by Jenna Fisher/Patch