Memorial Day 2015

The following material has been copied and pasted with love from this page on the official website of the State of Massachusetts.

All of the links that you see here were on the state's website.

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Massachusetts proudly supports and honors military members who have died fighting for our country, and Memorial Day — May 25, 2015 — offers residents of the Commonwealth an opportunity to remember fallen heroes. The Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) and the Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS) have information on Memorial Day events from Boston to the Berkshires.

Parades in Massachusetts

There are more than 40 Memorial Day parades scheduled this year in cities and towns across Massachusetts. Check with your municipality or the sponsor that organizes the parade in your area for start times and routes.

Ceremonies at Veterans’ Cemeteries

Annual events at state veterans’ cemeteries and other resting places for military members in the Commonwealth include poignant Memorial Day ceremonies. You can find burial site information for veterans using the nationwide gravesite locator from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

• Winchendon Cemetery — A one-hour outdoor ceremony begins at 9 a.m. on the grounds of the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Winchendon.
• Agawam Cemetery — The event at the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Agawam, where thousands of veterans have been laid to rest, lasts approximately one hour and starts at 1 p.m.
• Massachusetts National Cemetery — Operated by the VA, the Massachusetts National Cemetery is located in Bourne, on Cape Cod. The Avenue of Flags lines the entrance to the cemetery and proudly displays flags donated by the families of interred veterans. A remembrance will occur on May 24 at 1 p.m. Notable gravesites include those of Medal of Honor recipients and unknown soldiers who fought for the Union during the Civil War.

Free Events for Veterans and Service Members

If you serve our country or want to do something special with a veteran or active duty military member, consider a free event during Memorial Day weekend.

• Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Preservation Month — Get involved in DCR‘s Preservation Month 2015 during May, which celebrates historic sites in Massachusetts. This year’s theme is War and Peace, to mark the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War. Programs at DCR parks around Memorial Day involve military monuments and structures, including Castle Island’s Fort Independence, Fort Warren on Georges Island, Civil War-era Camp Andrew at Brook Farm Historic Site, and the Massachusetts Veterans War Memorial Tower at Mount Greylock State Reservation. Most programs and events are free, but parking and ferry fees may apply.
• Battleship Cove — Active duty, reserve, and retired military members get free admission on Memorial Day weekend from May 23–25. A 21-gun salute and flag-raising ceremony takes place at 12 p.m. on Memorial Day and is free to the public.
• Blue Star Museums — Nearly 70 Massachusetts museums collaborate with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the Department of Defense (DoD), and Blue Star Families (BSF) as part of this project. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day — September 7, 2015 — active-duty military personnel and their families receive free admission to participating museums.
• Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) — Admission is free for everyone from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. during the MFA’s Memorial Day Open House. The temporary Over There! Posters from World War I and permanent Art of the Americas exhibitions feature paintings, pictures, and sculptures that may be of interest to Memorial Day visitors.
• National Parks and Historic Sites — The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass for U.S. military covers entrance and amenity fees at sites managed by the National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and Bureau of Reclamation (USBR). Military members can get a pass with a valid military I.D. at most Massachusetts locations that issue annual passes. Check with each location before you visit to make sure the pass is accepted. Sites related to American military history include Minute Man National Historical Park, Springfield Armory National Historic Site, and the Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail.

Volunteering Opportunities to Benefit Veterans

Support service members this Memorial Day by getting involved with charitable groups and programs that focus on helping Massachusetts veterans.

• The Women Veterans’ Network (WVN) — Join the WVN volunteer committee and host networking or social events for women veterans in your area as part of this DVS initiative.
• DVS Soldiers’ Homes — Volunteer, offer a memorial gift, or donate to one of the services or programs at one of the two DVS Soldiers’ Homes, located in Chelsea and Holyoke.
• New England Center for Homeless Veterans (NECHV) — Serve meals, sort supplies, and teach veterans at this Boston-based center and join the more than 1,400 people who volunteer annually.
• The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) — Find volunteer opportunities in your area, learn how to start your own service project, and invite others to join your new program with CNCS resources.

Memorial Day is a time for reflection as well as celebration. Honor service members and veterans this holiday and enjoy the many commemorative events in the Commonwealth.

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Thank you, Governor Baker !