Memorial Day Ceremony

The Town of Wakefield will Honor the Fallen at the 2023 Memorial Day Ceremony in the Galvin Middle School auditorium. The keynote speaker will be Andrew Biggio, a former U.S. Marine Corps infantry sergeant, local law enforcement officer, author, and founder of the nonprofit Boston's Wounded Vet Run. His recent works, the Rifle Volumes I and II, document his journey across the country to record the memories of WWII Veterans. Using a 1945 M1 Garand rifle as a point of inspiration, Biggio was able to evoke stories from the Veterans they had never before shared publicly.

The event will also feature the National Anthem performed by Morgan Wallace from Wakefield Memorial High School, an interactive experience Honoring Wakefield's Fallen, and presentations of the Massachusetts Medal of Fidelity to Pam Hart, Clair Brown, and Marion Dennehy. Pastor Douglas Dry, First Baptist Church of Wakefield, is the Chaplain for the ceremony.

Boy Scout Troop 701 will Post the Colors and Girl Scout Troop 62842 will present a wreath Honoring the Fallen. Our representatives will share their reflections. For those who cannot attend in person, the ceremony will be featured on Wakefield Community Access TV.

In the days prior to Memorial Day, Boy Scout Troop 701, the Girl Scouts, and other local community organizations will be placing flags on Veteran graves at the Lakeside and Forest Glade Cemeteries. Volunteers are welcome to join the effort. Interested parties can meet at the Lakeside Cemetery on Monday, May 22 at 3 p.m. and the at Forest Glade Cemetery on Friday, May 26 at 3 p.m.

For questions about Memorial Day programs, please contact David Mangan, Veterans Service Officer, at 781-246-6377 or email dmangan@wakefield.ma.us.