New Bedford Announces Memorial Day Weekend Events
UPDATE: American Legion Post 1 has announced that the Sunday events have been canceled.
NEW BEDFORD — In the first full in-person Memorial Day celebration since 2019, several events are planned in New Bedford this upcoming holiday weekend to honor the men and women who lost their lives while serving the country.
For the past two years the city has celebrated with small-scale memorial services and other events that were broadcast online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But this year, the annual parade and other services and events are back!
Here's what's coming up this weekend:
Saturday, May 28
9 a.m. — Rural Cemetery Civil War Exercise: The Greater New Bedford Civil War Round Table will conduct a memorial exercise including historical reenactments, music, and a gun salute at 9 a.m. at the Union Soldier's Burial Site in Rural Cemetery, 149 Dartmouth St.
Sunday, May 29
10:30 a.m. — Pine Grove Cemetery Memorial Day Exercise: New Bedford American Legion Post 1 will conduct an exercise at 10:30 a.m. at the Veterans' plot in Pine Grove Cemetery, 1100 Ashley Blvd.
12 p.m. — City Hall Exercise: The New Bedford American Legion Post 1 will conduct another exercise at the Vietnam Veterans’ Honor Roll at 12 p.m. at New Bedford City Hall, 133 William St.
Monday, May 30 (Memorial Day)
8:15 a.m. — Rural Cemetery Memorial Day Exercise: New Bedford's American Legion Post 1 will conduct an exercise at the Veterans' Plot at 8:15 a.m. at Rural Cemetery, 149 Dartmouth St.
10 a.m. — Memorial Day Fishermen's Service: The New Bedford Port Society’s Annual Memorial Day Fishermen's Service will be held at Pier 3 on the city's waterfront.
11:30 a.m. — New Bedford Memorial Day Parade:
This year’s parade is put on by the City of New Bedford, its Veterans’ Services Department, the City Council and the New Bedford Veterans’ Advisory Board.
The parade will form at the Hathaway Boulevard and Parker Street intersection starting from around 10:30 a.m., and stepping off at 11:30 a.m.
It will first march east on Parker Street to County Street, then turn left and head north on County Street before turning right onto Pope Street heading east and then again into Clasky Common Park.
A Memorial Day service will be held at the reviewing stand at the conclusion of the parade.
This year’s service will include the reading of the Gettysburg Address, Logan’s Orders and roll call of New Bedford’s veterans who have passed away.
Family and friends of veterans who have passed away are invited to bring a flower to the service and place it at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in remembrance.