Weston’s Memorial Day Ceremony and Parade will take place this year on Monday, May 30th at 10 am (Ceremony) and 11 am (or immediately after the Ceremony) for the parade. The Ceremony will take place at Weston Town Hall’s Sears Auditorium and masks are encouraged indoors. The speakers this year are Massachusetts State Representative Alice Peisch and Veteran Bill Rose.

The Parade will follow the Ceremony at approximately 11:00 am and begin outside Town Hall. Children are invited to march in the parade or ride their bikes following the Weston Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Bike/stroller/wagon decorating is encouraged. I would imagine that self-decorating is also encouraged so don’t forget the red, white and blue.

For an extremely interesting and well-written view of some of the military of Weston who lost their lives, check out this Owl from last year. Meet Mr. Fiske, at whose memorial park you shall be stopping

Please note that the parade route round trip is 1.8 miles, and takes approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. That does not include the sprint across Route 20 which is always exciting, police escort or not. Don’t forget to wear sunscreen, bring water and if you have kids like mine were, snacks. Lots of snacks.

Parade Order:

The Memorial Day Parade will include Police & Fire Department honor guards, Veterans in vehicles, the 100+ member Weston High School marching band (wait! Can that be right? 1/6 of the high school is in the marching band? That’s nutty), followed by Boy Scout and Girl Scouts troops in uniform.  Behind them, parents are welcome to bring children in strollers, wagons, carts, and bikes. Children can ride their decorated bikes or ride-on toys like Big Wheels (wearing helmets). Skateboards, recreational scooters, or roller skates will not be permitted due to safety concerns.

I would like to note that I see no riderless horse honor guard. Of all towns that should have horses in a Memorial Day parade, it is this one. I would demand it happen next year but stuff like that always gets me volunteered to organize it. Here, have this photo of a riderless horse instead:

Parade Route:

Parade Route begins at Town Hall, on Town House Road following a Veterans’ wreath-laying at the Memorial Rock with the playing of Taps and a gun salute by the Honor Guard*. The Parade will proceed right, towards Church Street, and loops around Weston’s Town Green through Town Center to Concord Road where it will stop for a wreath-laying. Then, the Parade continues beyond Linwood Ave to Old Farmers Cemetery for wreath-laying and playing of Taps. The Parade will then cross Route 20, with a police escort, into Linwood Cemetery for the final ceremonial stop of wreath-laying, playing of Taps, and an Honor Guard gun salute*. Please be respectful and silent during those times. The Parade will then loop through the Cemetery and proceed back to Town Hall using the same route.

* An asterisk denotes a sound sensitivity advisory