Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the traditional Town of Danvers Memorial Day Parade and Town Hall Ceremony will not take place this year. However, there will be two special events occurring to honor veterans. At 9 AM, there will be a Rolling Caravan, followed by the main event, a Virtual Memorial Day Ceremony broadcast on Danvers Community Access Television at 10 AM and later at 6 PM Channel 99 on Comcast and Channel 36 on Verizon. The program will also be broadcast on DCAT’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.
Kelley Rayos-Teixeira, the Town’s Veterans Services Officer, stated, “Things are different this year with all the challenges of the pandemic, but we still wanted to honor our fallen veterans. We have tried to incorporate many segments from our traditional ceremony into this year’s virtual ceremony and, through the efforts of DCAT, have put together a great program. We think the public will be pleased.”
The Memorial Day Rolling Caravan, organized by the Danvers Police Department, will be a military-style procession of Police Cruisers, Fire Apparatus, and Military Vehicles. Please see their website, www.danversma.gov/departments/police-department or www.danverspolice.com for more information and specific route directions. The public is reminded to adhere to all mandated state guidelines on social distancing and wearing masks. There will be no gathering or ceremony at Town Hall before or after the caravan.
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The Virtual Memorial Day Ceremony, organized by the Danvers Veterans Council and the town’s Veterans Services Department, will have Dick Moody, president of the Danvers Veterans Council and founder of Operation Troop Support, as Master of Ceremonies. The guest speaker will be Richard Trask, Danvers Town Archivist, who will present “Memories of the Past.” Other participants will include a Color Guard by Danvers Police Department, wreath placement by Danvers Girl and Boy Scout, music provided by Danvers High School Band, TAPS by Danvers High School Band members, bagpipe music by Capt. Kenneth Reardon, Jr., Danvers Fire Department, and a volley salute by the Danvers Alarm List Company.
“Our town will still be placing flags at veteran gravesites and wreaths honoring veterans at locations throughout town, but these two events present a wonderful opportunity for the community to honor the memory of all those veterans who have paid the ultimate price while serving our country at home and abroad,” said Moody.