Memorial Day Parade & Ceremony

The Town of Halifax Office of Veteran Services along with the Halifax Board of Selectmen will be hosting the Town's Annual Memorial Day Ceremony and (bringing back) the Memorial Day Parade at 9:30 am until 12 pm on Monday, May 30th, 2022 at the Halifax Town Hall. The ceremony will be outdoors at the front of Town Hall. The Office of Veteran Services and Board of Selectmen welcome anyone to join us in remembering and honoring all of the heroes who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

History of Memorial Day

Originally called Decoration Day, from the early tradition of decorating graves with flowers, wreaths and flags, Memorial Day is a day for remembrance of those who have died in service to our country. It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868 to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers, by proclamation of Gen. John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former Union sailors and soldiers.

During that first national commemoration, former Union Gen. and sitting Ohio Congressman James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, after which 5,000 participants helped to decorate the graves of the more than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers who were buried there.

This national event galvanized efforts to honor and remember fallen soldiers that began with local observances at burial grounds in several towns throughout the United States following the end of the Civil War, such as the May 1, 1865 gathering in Charleston, South Carolina organized by freed slaves to pay tribute and give proper burial to Union troops.

In 1873, New York was the first state to designate Memorial Day as a legal holiday. By the late 1800s, many more cities and communities observed Memorial Day, and several states had declared it a legal holiday.

After World War I, it became an occasion for honoring those who died in all of America’s wars and was then more widely established as a national holiday throughout the United States.

Schedule of Events

Opening Remarks
Steve Littlefield, Assistant Veterans’ Agent

Invocation
Rev. Dr. William Wildman, Halifax Congregational Church

National Anthem
Ashtyn Brinson-Pratt, 6th Grade Student, H.E.S.

”The Ragged Old Flag” & “God Bless America”
Jim Ingargiola, Veteran of Iwo Jima

H.E.S. Essay Contest Reading
5th Grade – xxxxxxx
6th Grade – xxxxxxx

Keynote Speakers
Steve Littlefield, Iraq/Afghanistan Veteran, Veteran’s Agent

Laying of Memorial Day Wreaths & Playing of TAPS
Halifax Veterans’ Agents & Select Personnel
Halifax Board of Selectman
TAPS by Nancy Campbell, South Shore Philharmonic

Benediction
Pastor Bill, Halifax Congregational Church

Closing Remarks
Steve Littlefield, Assistant Veterans’ Agent

Flag to Full-Mast at 12:00 Noon
Boy Scouts Troop 39, Cub Scouts Pack 239