Norwood Prepares For Veterans Day Activities

NORWOOD - Norwood will continue its tradition of honoring those who have dedicated their lives in service and sacrifice to their country on Veterans Day this Thursday with a series of events.

The day will begin with a Veterans’ Recognition Mass at St. Catherine’s of Siena Church, located at 549 Washington St. in Norwood Center.

Director of Veterans' Services Ted Mulvehill said he was happy that the tradition of the parade on Veterans Day will return this year after being halted by the pandemic.

"I'm glad that we are able to go back to honoring veterans and their families in a way that we weren't able to do during COVID," he said.

"At 9:30 in the morning, the parade units will gather at the Balch Elementary School to set up," he continued. "It will start at 10 a.m. with the Norwood High School marching band and the Colonial Pipers."

Also included will be the Norwood Colonial Boys Fife & Drum Corps, an Irish-American group that was formed in 1953. Veterans from all branches will participate in the parade, which will begin at the Balch at 10 a.m. It will proceed down Washington Street and arrive at the Town Common about 45 minutes later.

A ceremony with speeches from local officials will begin at 11:11 a.m. in observance of anniversary of the armistice with Germany at the end of World War I in 1918, which culminated at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the year.

Following the event, a collation will be held at VFW Post 2451 at 193 Dean St. A flag retirement ceremony will be held in the parking lot at 11:45 a.m. with Boy Scout Troop 42 during which they will respectfully burns flags that are too tattered and worn to be displayed.

Later that afternoon, there will be an open house at Old Parish Cemetery on Washington Street to the north of Town Hall. It will last from 1 to 3 p.m.