Veterans to hold Memorial Day ceremonies
After no town-wide ceremonies were held for Memorial Day last year, the newly formed Veterans Council is bringing back the tradition of honoring the dead for Memorial Day later this month.
“We hope sons, daughters and grandchildren will join us to help remember those we’ve lost,” said Jim Bruce, Veterans Council member who is in charge of the Memorial Day ceremonies.
The Council plans to hold ceremonies at cemeteries and veteran memorials throughout the town.
The ceremony will include brief remarks from a chaplain, a rifle salute from two members of the VFW Post and two members of the American Legion Post, a presentation of a wreath and “Taps” played by bugler Allyson Giannelli.
The day of remembrance will start at 8:30 a.m. at the Town Green on Main Street. From there, the group plans to move to St. Patrick’s and Centre Cemeteries. After that, the group will travel to Besse Park, Agawam Cemetery, Dudley Brown Square in Onset, the Onset bluffs war memorial, Stone Bridge and finishing the day at Town Hall.
Veterans Council Chairman Bob White said each ceremony is estimated to last 30 minutes. He said prior to Memorial Day, Council members and volunteers will go out to each cemetery and plant markers in front of veterans graves. Shortly before Memorial Day, Wareham schoolchildren will place flags on top of the markers, White said.
White said if anyone wishes to volunteer their time to help mark the veterans graves, or knows of a veteran whose grave is not marked, he can be contacted at wrcw@verizon.net.