What’s Open, Closed in Walpole on Memorial Day

Walpole will pay tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and our country on Monday, May 27th with a ceremony in the center of town at 11 a.m.

Here's a quick look at what will be open and closed in Walpole Monday. Please leave a comment if you have something to add to the list!

1. What’s Open in Walpole on Memorial Day

• Supermarkets
• Convenience stores
• Bars (at owner’s discretion)
• Retail stores (at owner’s discretion)

2. What’s Closed in Walpole on Memorial Day

• Banks
• Walpole town offices
• State offices
• Federal offices
• Post office/mail
• Walpole Public Library
• Walpole Public Schools
• Liquor stores

3. Expect a Sunny Memorial Day in Walpole

Today’s weather in Walpole, according to the National Weather Service based in Taunton, calls for sunny, with a high near 70. West wind 8 to 14 mph. Memorial Day night: Mostly clear, with a low around 47. West wind 3 to 8 mph.

4. 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.