Charlestown, R.I., Holds Memorial Day Parade Celebrating Honored Veterans

CHARLESTOWN, R.I. (WJAR) — Local communities in Southeastern New England marked the Memorial Day Weekend with parades, including one in Charlestown. The parade started at 1:00 PM on Saturday, May 26, following a route along Old Post Road.

During the event, observances took place at Cross Mills Baptist Church and Cold Brook. The Charlestown Memorial Day Committee shared that additional activities were held at the Naval Airfield Memorial at Ninigret Park.

Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May, this year falling on May 26. It was originally known as Decoration Day, established in the years following the Civil War. It became an official federal holiday in 1971 under President Richard Nixon. The day is dedicated to honoring and mourning those who died while serving in the U.S. military.

Traditions on this day include attending parades, visiting cemeteries, and wearing red poppies to remember fallen soldiers. Many communities in Massachusetts are also partaking in similar observances.

This year, while most government offices, including federal and state courts, remain closed, many retail stores are open. However, services such as the New York Stock Exchange and various banks may be closed.

Public transportation follows altered schedules, with the MBTA operating on Sunday schedules. No ferry services have been running from Hingham to Boston, with alternatives maintaining weekend schedules.

As summer unofficially begins with Memorial Day, the holiday continues to serve as a time of reflection and remembrance.