Memorial Day Ceremonies

The Town of Harvard Memorial Day exercises will begin at 10 a.m. to honor those who gave their lives in defense of our country. All veterans are asked to be lined up in front of the Town Hall at 9:45 a.m. Acceptable dress includes uniform or appropriate civilian attire. The parade will proceed from the Town Hall to the Civil War Memorial, and then onto the Center Cemetery where geraniums will be placed at each Veteran's grave, by children in attendance. The parade will continue to the World War II, Korean, Vietnam and Gulf War Memorial and then move to the World War I Memorial and flagpole for the day's ceremony. Wreaths will be presented at each memorial and Taps played. Upon completion, the parade will return to the Town Hall where everyone may continue, by car, to the Corporal Skillings Memorial in Still River to allow a wreath to be placed and Taps played. All will reassemble at Bellevue Cemetery for a short parade around the cemetery, placing of a wreath and playing Taps. Children will be invited to assist in placing geraniums at each Veteran's grave. All levels of Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the Police and Fire Departments, Immaculate Heart Of Mary Marching Band and all Veterans who wish to walk in the parade, are welcome.

Schedule of Events

9:40 a.m.: Assembly of parade participants at Harvard Town Hall

9:45 a.m.: Line up of parade units at Town Hall

10:00 a.m.: March of parade to Civil War Memorial
Reading of General Order #11, May 5th, 1868
Placement of wreath at Civil War Memorial & "Taps"

10:10 a.m.: March of parade to Town Center Cemetery
Placement of a geranium at each veteran's gravesite by children
Placement of wreath at Founders' Flagpole & "Taps"

10:25 a.m.: March of parade to Town Center Memorials
Placement of wreath at combined WWII, Korean, Vietnam and Gulf War Memorial & "Taps"

10:30 a.m.: March of parade to Town Center Flagpole
Placement of wreath at World War I Memorial & "Taps"
National Anthem with concurrent raising of US Flag
Keynote address
Tolling of the Bell with reading of Veterans passed since last Memorial Day

11:00 a.m. Parade units released at Town Hall

11:20 a.m. Reassembly of parade at Still River Old Post Office
Placement of wreath at CPL Skillings Memorial & "Taps"

11:45 a.m. Reassembly at Bellevue Cemetery
March of parade using inside loop
Placement of wreath at Bellevue Cemetery Flagpole & "Taps"
Placement of a geranium at each veteran's gravesite by children

Placement of wreaths
Poor Farm Road – Stewart grave
Shaker Cemetery