Tewksbury Memorial Day Parade Will Take Place Monday

TEWKSBURY, MA — Tewksbury's annual Memorial Day ceremony and parade will return Monday, organizer Mark Kratman confirmed.

The ceremony will take place from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Monday at Tewksbury Cemetary, 172 East Street. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. at the Ryan School, head south on Main Street, and conclude at the Aubuchon Hardware plaza around noon.

Main Street will be closed from 8:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. More details on the closures and the route are available here.

The Memorial Day events will be the town's first major events in over a year, with last year's parade canceled due to the coronavirus. Over 80 groups are registered to march in the parade.

Kratman began planning the event two months ago, before he had confirmation from the state that it would be possible. Most restrictions will be lifted Saturday.

"I've received over 250 phone calls of people calling me, saying this is the best news they've heard in so long," Kratman said. "We're getting back to normal. People are excited and they just can't wait to get out."

Social distancing will be required but masks will not, Kratman said.

"It's going to be a great parade," he said. "This is when we honor the people who made the ultimate sacrifice to our country."

Air Force Veterans Vincent Oliva and Randy Carter will be the guest speaker and master of ceremonies respectively of the Memorial Day Ceremony, Kratman said.

Other speakers will include scouts and students — no politicians this year.

The ceremony and parade will be broadcast live and replayed on TewksburyTV.

Kratman said anyone with questions can contact him at markkratman@verizon.net or 978-726-2912.