A Resident's Guide to Foxborough's Memorial Day Weekend 2013

It is often a weekend associated with cookouts and the unofficial beginning of summer, but Memorial Day is truly a day to remember the military veterans who died in service – sacrificing their lives for our country's freedom.

Foxborough will pay tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and our country on Monday, May 27th with the town's annual Memorial Day Parade, which begins at 8:45 a.m. in front of the American Legion Hall on Mechanic Street and ends at the foot of the Common. A ceremony on the Common will follow the parade.

“We invite all the citizens to come and show your support for the veterans,” said Bob Siteman, Foxborough’s chairman of the Veteran Services Advisory Committee.

Here's what you need to know about Memorial Day Weekend in Foxborough:

Friday, May 24:

Placing American Flags at Veterans Gravestones, 5 p.m. – Members of the Foxborough, local Boy Scouts, families and friends will come together Friday for the annual placing of American flags on veterans' graves at Rockhill Cemetery. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2626, local Boy Scouts, families and friends will place flags on veterans’ graves at Saint Mary's Cemetery.

Saturday, May 25:

Founders Day Rocket Drive, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. – The Founders Day Committee is holding its annual voluntary toll (“the boot drive,” also called the “rocket drive”) to collect money for the spectacular fireworks on Founders Day (scheduled for June 8^th this year). This yearly “toll” is the firework fund’s greatest fundraiser.

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Free Admission to The Hall at Patriot Place, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. - The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon will offer free admission to all veterans, active service men and women, active police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians with proper service identification through Memorial Day Weekend.

Since opening in September 2008, The Hall has offered free admission to military personnel each Veterans’ Day and Memorial Day. Military personnel were also offered free admission in 2010 during an extension of the traveling exhibit “Pro Football and the American Spirit,” which told the story of professional football players and personnel who served our nation in the military from WWII to Desert Storm and the conflict in Afghanistan.

The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon is a one-of-a-kind, cutting-edge sports and education experience in Foxborough that also serves as the New England Patriots Hall of Fame.

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2013 Memorial Day Foxboro Soccer Cup – The annual Foxboro Cup begins Saturday. Click here for the latest schedules and information.

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New England Revolution and ‘Slyde’ Autograph Session, noon to 1:30 p.m. – Players from the New England Revolution will be on hand during the Foxboro Cup for autographs and photographs along with the Revs’ mascot, “Slyde.”

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CBS Scene – All active military, veterans and first responders will receive a complimentary lunch special all weekend. (Qualifying visitors will need to show proper identification confirming their position in one those groups, and the complimentary lunch special is for that person only and cannot be combined with any other offers. Excludes alcohol).

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Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar And Grill – An important menu feature is the American Soldier Burger, a nod to Keith’s well-known patriotism and USO trips to entertain troops in the Middle East. The burger is served free of charge to any military personnel with valid military ID.

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FANAUTICAL – Fishing for a good deal? Catch a 10 percent discount this weekend when showing your military ID.

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Old Navy – Show your military ID and receive 10 percent off your purchase (May 24-27).

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5WiTS – 5Wits salutes Heroes. All military personnel with a valid military ID receive free admission and their family members will be admitted for $2. Family members must accompany the military member to receive the discount.

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Cupcake Charlie’s – Receive 10 percent off your purchase with a military ID.

Sunday, May 26:

Free Admission to The Hall at Patriot Place, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. - The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon will offer free admission to all veterans, active service men and women, active police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians with proper service identification through Memorial Day Weekend.

Since opening in September 2008, The Hall has offered free admission to military personnel each Veterans’ Day and Memorial Day. Military personnel were also offered free admission in 2010 during an extension of the traveling exhibit “Pro Football and the American Spirit,” which told the story of professional football players and personnel who served our nation in the military from WWII to Desert Storm and the conflict in Afghanistan.

The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon is a one-of-a-kind, cutting-edge sports and education experience in Foxborough that also serves as the New England Patriots Hall of Fame.

***

2013 Memorial Day Foxboro Soccer Cup – The annual Foxboro Cup begins Saturday. Click here for the latest schedules and information.

***

New England Revolution and ‘Slyde’ Autograph Session, 1:30 to 3 p.m. – Players from the New England Revolution will be on hand during the Foxboro Cup for autographs and photographs along with the Revs’ mascot, “Slyde.”

***

CBS Scene – All active military, veterans and first responders will receive a complimentary lunch special all weekend. (Qualifying visitors will need to show proper identification confirming their position in one those groups, and the complimentary lunch special is for that person only and cannot be combined with any other offers. Excludes alcohol).

***

Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar And Grill – An important menu feature is the American Soldier Burger, a nod to Keith’s well-known patriotism and USO trips to entertain troops in the Middle East. The burger is served free of charge to any military personnel with valid military ID.

***

FANAUTICAL – Fishing for a good deal? Catch a 10 percent discount this weekend when showing your military ID.

***

Old Navy – Show your military ID and receive 10 percent off your purchase (May 24-27).

***

5WiTS – 5Wits salutes Heroes. All military personnel with a valid military ID receive free admission and their family members will be admitted for $2. Family members must accompany the military member to receive the discount.

***

Cupcake Charlie’s – Receive 10 percent off your purchase with a military ID.

Monday, May 27:

Remembering the Fallen, 7 a.m. - The public is invited to join members of Foxborough’s American Legion Post 93, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2626, local Scouts and friends in honoring the town’s fallen veterans. Services begin at 7 a.m. for Foxborough's deceased veterans at Rock Hill Cemetery, St. Mary’s Cemetery and East Foxborough Memorial. 

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Foxborough Memorial Day Parade and Ceremonies, 8:45 a.m. – Foxborough’s annual Memorial Day Parade will begin in front of the American Legion Hall on Mechanic Street at 9 a.m. and travel along Cocasset, Wall and Central streets before ending at the foot of the Common around 9:30 a.m.

Once the parade ends, the Memorial Day ceremony on the Common begins.

The ceremony will feature a performance of the Patriotic song, "Proud to be an American," placing of wreaths on the town’s war memorials, a moment of solemn remembrance of the Foxborough veterans who have died in the past year, a 21-gun salute and a performance of taps played by Foxborough High School students.

This year’s keynote speaker is Foxborough native Patrick Mitchell, who will be graduating to 2^nd Lt. of the US Army from West Point on Sunday.

“We have a great keynote speaker,” Siteman said. “Four years ago Pat Mitchell, just before he went to the United States Military Academy at West Point, was the keynote speaker for the Memorial Day celebration. He graduates the day before Memorial Day from West Point and he will be our keynote speaker again this year, one day after his graduation as a Second Lt. in the United States Army. I think it is going to be a great celebration for the veterans.”

Patrick is the son of Foxborough residents Chris and Paula Mitchell.

Town officials, local representatives and students will also be participating in the ceremony.

Following the gathering on the Common all are invited to the American Legion Hall for refreshments.

***

Free Admission to The Hall at Patriot Place, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. - The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon will offer free admission to all veterans, active service men and women, active police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians with proper service identification through Memorial Day Weekend.

Since opening in September 2008, The Hall has offered free admission to military personnel each Veterans’ Day and Memorial Day. Military personnel were also offered free admission in 2010 during an extension of the traveling exhibit “Pro Football and the American Spirit,” which told the story of professional football players and personnel who served our nation in the military from WWII to Desert Storm and the conflict in Afghanistan.

The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon is a one-of-a-kind, cutting-edge sports and education experience in Foxborough that also serves as the New England Patriots Hall of Fame.

***

CBS Scene – All active military, veterans and first responders will receive a complimentary lunch special all weekend. (Qualifying visitors will need to show proper identification confirming their position in one those groups, and the complimentary lunch special is for that person only and cannot be combined with any other offers. Excludes alcohol).

***

Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar And Grill – An important menu feature is the American Soldier Burger, a nod to Keith’s well-known patriotism and USO trips to entertain troops in the Middle East. The burger is served free of charge to any military personnel with valid military ID.

***

FANAUTICAL – Fishing for a good deal? Catch a 10 percent discount this weekend when showing your military ID.

***

Old Navy – Show your military ID and receive 10 percent off your purchase (May 24-27).

***

5WiTS – 5Wits salutes Heroes. All military personnel with a valid military ID receive free admission and their family members will be admitted for $2. Family members must accompany the military member to receive the discount.

***

Cupcake Charlie’s – Receive 10 percent off your purchase with a military ID.

More About Memorial Day

According to http://www.usmemorialday.org, Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.

The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873 and by 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war.

It is now celebrated in almost every state on the last Monday in May.

ADD YOUR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND EVENTS: Have an event this weekend you would like to publicize? Let us know about it in the comments section below!