Worcester Planning Several Memorial Day In-Person Events

WORCESTER, MA — Worcester will return to a more traditional Memorial Day observance in 2021 with coronavirus cases dropping across the city and state.

Last May, Worcester canceled public Memorial Day ceremonies because the first wave of the virus was still being felt across the state. Instead, the city hosted a tour of Worcester war memorials broadcast on Facebook and the government access channel.

In 2021, Worcester will hold the usual water ceremony at Elm Park, a remembrance ceremony at Hope Cemetery and wreath-laying ceremonies at the Vietnam and Korean War memorials. Also over the weekend, Worcester officials christened the new Sgt. John D. Foley Square near the intersection of Chandler and Lovell streets.

Worcester only added 85 new coronavirus cases over the past week, the lowest weekly number since the end of last summer. About half of Massachusetts residents had been fully vaccinated against the virus as of Monday.

Here's the full lineup of Worcester's 2021 Memorial Day events:

• May 30, 1 p.m. — Elm Park water ceremony
• May 31, 9 a.m. — Memorial Day observance at Hope Cemetery, 119 Webster St.
• May 31, 11 a.m. — Wreath laying at the Massachusetts Vietnam Memorial at Green Hill Park
• May 31, 1 p.m. — Wreath laying at the Korean War Memorial, 52 Foster St.