An American Hometown Tradition The Memorial Day Parade, Ceremonies, and Program

Memorial Day Committee (posted: Thursday, May 20, 2010) | Email this story

The Sudbury Memorial Day Parade, Ceremonies, and Program are held on the last Monday in May. Sudbury has formally honored its war dead for more than 100 years. The parade and ceremonies honor veterans of all wars that involved Sudbury residents starting with King Philip’s War in 1676.

Parade Schedule and Events

Parade Schedule:
The main part of the parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. at Rugged Bear Plaza, where Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and a delegation of Native Americans will join veterans, the American Legion, the Sudbury Companies of Militia and Minute, the Sudbury Ancient Fyfe and Drum Companies and Company F, 12 Georgia Infantry.

The parade follows Route 20 and Concord Road, with stops at Hop Brook for a Maritime Ceremony, the Civil War Monument at the Goodnow Library, and the World War II, Korea, Vietnam and King Philip monuments at Wadsworth Cemetery.

Cub Scouts and Brownies join the parade at Our Lady of Fatima, as it continues and ends with a World War I ceremony at Grinnell Park in the town center at 11:00am.

Veterans Invited:
Veterans are invited to join the line of march at Rugged Bear Plaza. Uniforms are not required. Civilian clothes which respect the dignity of the occasion (dark slacks, white dress shirt, and hat that identifies your branch of service or veterans' organization are appropriate).

Town Center Activities:
Hosmer House opens to the public at 10:00 a.m. and remains open until 2:00 p.m. An exhibit of indemnification models is on display, and light refreshments will be served.

The Memorial Day Program begins at Town Hall at 11:25 a.m. The names of Sudbury veterans who died since last Memorial Day are read. Musical selections are performed by the Sudbury Ancient Fyfe and Drum Companies, followed by greetings from Ivan Lubash, Parade Marshal and Larry O’Brian, Selectman. Trumpet selections and bugle calls by Robert Coe will also be played.

Parade Route and Schedule:
7:30 a.m. Revolutionary War Salute, Minuteman Statue
8:30 a.m. Commemorative ceremonies at Old North
Cemetery and New North Cemetery
9:30 a.m. Parade begins at Rugged Bear Plaza
9:35 a.m. Maritime Ceremony at Hop Brook
9:50 a.m. Civil War Monument at Goodnow Library
10:00 a.m. WW II, Korea, Vietnam, and King Philip
Monuments at Wadsworth Cemetery
10:45 a.m. Brownies and Cubs enter at Our Lady of Fatima
11:00 a.m. WWI ceremony at Grinnell Park at Town Center
11:25 a.m. Program begins at Town Hall

Activities at Sudbury Town Center:
10:00 a.m. Hosmer House opens to public
11:00 a.m. WWI ceremony at Grinnell Park
11:25 a.m. Program begins at Town Hall

Hosmer House
This year a display of identification models, ships, planes and armored vehicles. These are very detailed scale models of both “friendly” and “enemy” forces use to train gunners and pilots to quickly and correctly identify a friend from a target. The Services had a great deal of success with these models and they became very collectable with veterans as souvenirs. This spawned a huge industry of model making which today is still dominated by military equipment. Included in the display are some very rare WWII German Army ceramic tank models. These were made by the Goebel Company better known for their production of “Hummel” figurines. There are also salesman samples models and factory “give a ways” for completion of large government contracts such as aircraft carriers. The display includes many aircraft carrier shaped ashtrays which were given to VIPs and senior officers as commissioning gifts. 

The Historic Hosmer House is open to the public from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.