HopNews
Hopkinton’s Memorial Day Schedule — Monday, May 25
9:45 A.M. — Evergreen Cemetery (Wood Street)
- Taps & Talk
- Gettysburg Address
- Old Guard Gun Salute
St. John’s Cemetery
Mt. Auburn Cemetery (Mayhew Street)
- Wreath laying by Legion veterans and Scouts
- Soldier’s Mound — Grand Army of the Republic
11:15 A.M. — Town Common Gazebo
- Band performance
- Speakers
- Gettysburg Address
12:00 P.M. — Flag Dip & National Anthem
12:30 P.M. — Food at St. John’s Parish Hall
About Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States, observed on the last Monday in May, dedicated to honoring and mourning the military personnel who have died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Originally known as Decoration Day, it began in the years following the Civil War. It was a time for communities to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers and flags. It officially became a national holiday in 1971.
Today, Americans observe the day through a variety of traditions. These include visiting cemeteries and memorials, attending parades, and flying the flag at half-staff until noon. And pausing for a National Moment of Remembrance at 3:00 P.M. local time.
Beyond its solemn purpose, Memorial Day has also come to mark the unofficial start of summer.
Many families will spend the weekend gathering for barbecues, road trips, and outdoor activities. It’s a time that blends remembrance with celebration of the freedoms those service members helped protect.
Learn more about the history of Memorial Day at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website here: Memorial Day history – National Cemetery Administration
Thank You
HopNews would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Scouts of Hopkinton for assisting American Legion Post 202 in placing flags at the graves of our veterans. Also, we’d like to thank Ken Weismantel for capturing and sharing these photos with HopNews.
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