For Memorial Day In Newton Flags, Rolling Tribute Amid Pandemic

NEWTON, MA — The bridges over the highway in Newton were draped with American flags and signs that read "All gave some, some gave all, God Bless America." in honor of Memorial Day.

Each year for the past several years the Newton Sons of American Legion members and friends take American Flags and signs thanking veterans and drape them across highway bridges and around the city. Some 230 flags drape 23 bridges between Newton, Weston, and Needham.

Newton Sons of American Legion post 440's Paul Pasquarosa's thought of the idea about seven years ago, as a way to increase the visibility of veterans, and the post counted up the bridges and ordered the 3 x 5 nylon flags through the city's veteran services office.

Then, a couple dozen volunteers took the flags to the bridges a week before Memorial Day and set them up so cars passing by would see them from the highway. They take them down a week after the holiday, wash and repair the flags and then take them out to put them up again a week before Veteran's Day.

In 2018, some of the flags were vandalized ahead of Veteran's Day. In response police upped their presence. >> American Flags Torn From Bridge In Newton.

Memorial Day in Newton
This year's remembrance will be slightly different from past years, the annual Newton Memorial Day Parade in its previous form has been canceled because of the pandemic.

"Clearly it's so important that regardless of the pandemic we're still pausing for a moment to memorialize and remember the veterans from Newton," Said Director of Veterans' Services Seth Bai. "While we are not able to have a parade this year we're still able to have an observance."

The city is waiting on Gov. Charlie Baker to lay out the latest guidance on restrictions and gatherings, said Bai. If the commonwealth sticks with small gatherings of 10 or fewer, the city's observance will be small, he said, with only key dignataries invited - such as the commander of the American Legion and some city council members. If the governor opens up the possibility of having gatherings larger than 10, the ceremony may become more broad.

"Safety comes first," he said. "Either way it will be held rain or shine at 10 a.m. at the Newton Cemetery... And hopefully next year we'll be able to talk parade."

But 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. and include Adams, Washington Crafts, Watertown, West, Middle Chapel, Dalby, Cook, Green Pearl, Capital, Washburn, Jasset, Faxon, Bridge, Linwood, Nevada, Hawthorn, Clinton and Lincoln streets, according to organizers.

Sunday, several organizations will be sponsoring several wreath laying events, asking people to maintain 6 feet apart and not to congregate:

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).Have a press release you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how to post a press release, opinion piece.