ICYMI: Westborough's 2018 Memorial Day Parade, Ceremonies

WESTBOROUGH, MA—The Memorial Day celebration plans for Westborough are set for a memorable salute to the men and women of Westborough who have served. The town-wide event takes place on Monday, May 28, beginning at 8 a.m.
The public is invited to attend the many morning tributes. Residents, visitors, families and friends traditionally line the streets for the parade which begins at about 9 a.m. at the on South Street and continues into the Rotary before advancing down West Main Street to the Forbes Municipal Building.
Along the way, the parade will makes stops at Pine Grove, Midland and Memorial cemeteries where dignitaries will lay wreaths and pay tribute to Westborough veterans.
This year, the Grand Marshal is longtime Westborough resident Jim Tepper.
Guest speakers at the ceremony include Rep. Hannah Kane and Selectman Bruce Tretter.

The Westborough High School marching band and band will march in the parade as well as Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts from Westborough. Others in the procession include veterans, Board of Selectmen and the Honor Guard.

Clergy also offer prayers.

The schedule of events is as follows:
8 a.m. – VFW Post 9013 on Milk Street. All Participants meet for Coffee and Pastries
8:30 a.m. – Buses Depart for St. Luke's Cemetery.
Master of Ceremonies (MC) Al Tournas introduces WHS Band Director Mr. Evan Doyle who will play the National Anthem. Master of Ceremonies (MC) Introduces Selectman Ian Johnson who in turn will introduce Rep. Carolyn Dykema, and Rep. Danielle Gregoire who say a few words and then will present the wreath. MC Introduces Monsignor Michael Foley of St. Luke's Church who will lead us in prayer.
MC Introduces USMC 25th Regiment Honor Guard who will fire 3 volleys of rifle fire WHS Band buglers Kael Pelletier and John Pashapour will play TAPS
During TAPS the US Flag will be slowly raised to full staff.
This will conclude the services at St. Luke's Cemetery and all units will march back to the buses to proceed to Pine Grove cemetery.
● 09:30 - Buses arrive at Pine Grove Cemetery.
Master of Ceremonies (MC) Introduces WHS Band Director Mr. Evan Doyle who will play our National Anthem.
Master of Ceremonies (MC) Introduces the Selectman Bruce Tretter who will say a few words and then with Grand
(MC) Introduces Pastor John Wesley Taylor of the First United Methodist Church who will lead us in prayer.
(MC) Introduces the USMC 25th Regiment Honor Guard who will fire 3 volleys of rifle
fire. WHS Band buglers will now play TAPS. During TAPS the US Flag will be raised to full staff slowly.
MC Introduces Band Director Karen Forrest and the Gibbons Middle School band who
will play a selected piece.

This will conclude services at Pine Grove Cemetery.
● 10:15 - Parade arrives at Midland Cemetery.
Parade official will split the parade to accommodate all units viewing the services.
Master of Ceremonies (MC) Introduces WHS Band Director Mr. Evan Doyle who will play our National Anthem.
Master of Ceremonies (MC) Introduces Selectmen Syed Hashmi and Shelby Marshall who will present the wreath.
(MC) Introduces Chaplin Edmund Babinsky of Aseracare Hospice who will lead us in
prayer.
(MC) Introduces the USMC 25th Regiment Honor Guard who will fire 3 volleys of rifle fire.
WHS Band buglers will now play TAPS.
MC Introduces Band Director Karen Forrest and the Gibbons Middle School band who will play a selected piece.

This concludes services at Midland cemetery.
● 11 a.m. Parade arrives at World War I, World War II, Korean War, and Gulf War
Memorials. All units form at the Forbes Municipal building.
Parade officials will split the units so all to fit in front of the Memorials and vehicles no longer needed will be removed and asked to move to the front of the library.
(MC) Al Tournas welcomes all officials, dignitaries, participants, veterans groups, and the great citizens of the Town of Westborough.
(MC) will introduce WHS aCapella group Double Take (Helena Spofford, Sara Cayem,
Jennifer Brown, Neha Prasad, Sasha Mavretic, Natalie Chace, Leah Mintz, Samantha
Ginsberg) will perform our National Anthem.
(MC) Will now introduce Chairman of the Board of Selectman Leigh Emery to introduce
our special invited guest speaker Rep. Hannah Kane for a few words and a presentation
(MC) Introduces Band Director Karen Forrest and the Gibbons Middle School band who
will play a selected piece.
(MC) Introduces the Grand Marshal Jim Tepper, who may say a few words.
(MC) Asks Jim Tepper and Leigh Emery to present the wreath.
(MC) Introduces Herman Millet to read Logan's orders
(MC) Introduces Audrey Vaver, Class of 2018 Westborough High School National
Honor Society President who will recite the Gettysburg address,
(MC) will introduce Harry Cook, Adjutant of American Legion Post 163, who will
present the American Legion School Certificate for outstanding scholastic achievement
and an American Legion scholarship to Ms. Vaver.
(MC) Introduces Pastor Victoria Larson of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church who will
lead us in prayer.
(MC) Introduces the USMC 25th Regiment Honor Guard who will fire 3 volleys of Rifle
fire. During the rifle fire the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts will read the names of our
veterans who have passed away in 2017
WHS Band buglers will play TAPS
During TAPS the US Flag will be slowly raised to full staff
(MC) Introduces WHS Band Director Mr. Evan Doyle who will play a selected piece.
(MC) will now thank all our participants and invited guests.
This will now conclude our Memorial Day observance May 28, 2018.
All Town officials, invited guests, and veterans groups are now invited to the
Westborough Memorial VFW Post 9013 for collation.
Read more details on the ceremony here.
Photo via Shutterstock