Tewksbury Announces More Details About Memorial Day Ceremony, Parade

TEWKSBURY, MA —The Town of Tewksbury has announced more details about Monday's Memorial Day Ceremony and Parade.

The ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. at Tewksbury Cemetery, located at 172 East St. The parade will follow at 11 a.m.

The ceremony will feature Richard Frank as the Master of Ceremonies. Frank is a senior vice commander in the U.S. Army and is representing American Legion Post 259.

Reverend Baxter Chism, of Tewksbury Congregational Church, will deliver the opening prayer.

Tewksbury Memorial High School's Swinging Singers are scheduled to perform the "Star-Spangled Banner," while Tewksbury Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Eagle Scouts will lead the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Later, Richard Frank, of the U.S. Army, is scheduled to deliver the Governor's Memorial Day Proclamation, while Todd Johnson, chairman of the Select Board, and Vinnie Oliva, of the U.S. Armed Forces Reserves and VFW Post 8164, also are scheduled to offer remarks.

The guest speaker will be Todd Bowers, who currently serves as the head of corporate social impact at Wayfair and served 12 years in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, reaching the rank of staff sergeant.

Bowers served two tours in Iraq, one in Afghanistan and one in South America and received a Purple Heart, Navy Commendation Medal with "V" device for valor, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Marine Achievement Medal, Presidential Unit Citation and a Combat Action Ribbon.

After Bowers speaks, there will be a presentation of flowers by the VFW and American Legion to honor deceased service members

Frank will then read the John McCrea poem "In Flanders Field," which will be followed by a 21-gun salute and the lowering of the American flag to half-staff.

The program will close with "Taps" performed by Debbie Boyce Lisiecki and "God Bless America" performed by the TMHS chorus.

The ceremony is expected to end by 10:40 a.m.

The parade will begin at Town Hall, on the corner of Pleasant and Main Street, and head south to the corner of Livingston Street and Main Street, where the parade ends.

Organizers said over 40 groups are scheduled to march in the parade, including: VFW Post 8164, Tewksbury Police, Tewksbury Fire Department, State Police Mounted Unit, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, North/South Honor Guard, Tewksbury Lions Club, Knights of Columbus, Tewksbury/Wilmington Elks, Sons & Daughters of Italy, Tewksbury Republican Town Committee, Youth Football, Baseball Club and many more.

Officials also remind residents that the parade route —Route 38 (Main Street) — will be closed from 9 a.m. until the parade ends at approximately 1 p.m.