Memorial Day is almost here. Where South Shore parades, ceremonies and events will be

Memorial Day will not go unnoticed along the South Shore this year.

The holiday – which falls on Monday, May 27, this year – began in 1868 as Decoration Day after the Civil War ended as a time set aside to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers.

After World War I, the holiday evolved to honor American military personnel who died in all wars.

To mark the holiday in 2024, communities from Quincy to Plymouth are holding parades, ceremonies and community activities to honor deceased members of the armed services.

Cohasset

Veterans will leave the George H. Mealy Post, 98 Summer St., by bus at 8 a.m. to visit every cemetery where veterans are buried (Green Gate Cemetery and West Corner Memorial, then on to Woodside Cemetery, the Gold Star Mothers Memorial and Beechwood Cemetery).

The parade begins at 10 a.m. at the South Shore Music Circus, 130 Sohier St.,

From there, stops will be made at Central Cemetery and POW/MIA Square in the center of town. The last stop is Veterans Memorial Park, 2 Border St., where the formal Memorial Day ceremony will be held around noon.

Hanover

Hanover's Memorial Day Parade is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 27, at Saint Mary's Church, 392 Hanover St., and end at the Veterans Memorial, 495 Hanover St. next to the B. Everett Hall field. The parade route includes remembrances at the Hanover Center Cemetery, Hanover Town Hall and the Sylvester School World War II Memorial.

Parking is available at the Veterans Memorial.

The parade will march toward the Civil War Memorial, across from town hall, and then to the Hanover Center Cemetery.

The parade will then march to the town hall to honor the Korean, Vietnam and World War II veterans. It will then proceed to the Sylvester School building to memorialize World War I soldiers and conclude at the Veterans Memorial, where the Memorial Day ceremony will be held.

Following the parade, Hanover's Memorial Day ceremony will begin at the Veterans Memorial at approximately 11:30 a.m. The ceremony includes an opening prayer, remarks from town veterans and a roll call during the wreath-laying.

Hingham

Hingham Town Moderator Michael Puzo will begin the Memorial Day ceremony at 11 a.m. at Hingham Town Hall, 210 Central St.

All veterans and their families, Hingham High School band and chorale members and all senior citizens will be provided priority seating. The general public is invited and are encouraged to bring their own chairs.

The public affairs office at Hanscom Air Force Base has been asked to provide one of their officers to act as the principal speaker for this year’s observance.

After the official remarks, the town clerk will read the names of those Hingham veterans who have died since Memorial Day last year. A wreath will be placed in honor of all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, as the Rifle Squad fires the volley and a bugler plays taps.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, all veterans and their families are invited for a buffet-style luncheon at the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall, 358 Main St. served by Hart Catering of Rockland.

All students’ and other participants will be treated to ice cream on the lawn provided by the Veterans Council and donated by the Beal family of Hingham.

In the event of inclement weather, the entire ceremony will be conducted in the Sanborn Auditorium, at Hingham Town Hall.

Hull

The town's Memorial Day ceremony and parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, May 27, and travel from the high school, 180 Main St., to the cemetery on Duck Lane. There will be a ceremony at 10 a.m. at the cemetery. For more information, visit town.hull.ma.us.

After the Memorial Day parade and service, all are welcome to pop down to the Hull Village Green, 14 Spring St., for the annual Memorial Day picnic sponsored by the Hull Village Association

Participants should bring their own picnic wares or enjoy a cookout with neighbors and friends. There will also be field games.

Kingston

The annual Kingston Memorial Day parade kicks off at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 27, at the WWII War Memorial (across from the Cancun restaurant, 145 Main St.). It will then proceed onto Landing Road, Main Street, Green Street and Evergreen Street. The event will end with a ceremony on the town hall lawn, 26 Evergreen St. There will be a dedication of the Kingston Veterans Memorial during the Memorial Day ceremony. All residents are welcome to enjoy a free community cookout behind the town hall. immediately following the ceremony. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets or chairs to the cookout.

Marshfield

Marshfield’s Memorial Day observance begins at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, May 27, with a wreath-laying ceremony at each of the town’s cemeteries. A prayer will be offered at each, and the ceremonies include the playing of taps and 21-gun salute by the VFW Firing Detail.

Winslow Cemetery is first on the list and will be followed by ceremonies at the Cedar Grove Cemetery (next to the First Congregational Church, 1981 Ocean St.), Marshfield Center Cemetery (Grove and Ferry streets) Marshfield Hills Cemetery off Route 3A and Couch Cemetery off Union Street.

The Marshfield Memorial Day Parade leaves from Ventress Memorial Library, 15 Library Plaza, at 10: 30 a.m. on Monday, May 27. It will proceed on Ocean Street and pause at the Town Green at town hall before ending at Veterans Memorial Park for a ceremony at 11 a.m.

In case of bad weather, the parade will be canceled, and the ceremony will be held inside at the Furnace Brook Middle School, 500 Furnace St., at 11 a.m.

Pembroke

Pembroke's Memorial Day parade at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 27. The parade begins at the former Arrow Restaurant, 300 Center St and will end at the First Church in Pembroke, 105 Center St. Ceremonies and events will follow the parade.

Residents and others should expect delays and detours from approximately 9:45-10:45 a.m.

Plymouth

Plymouth's Memorial Day parade steps off at Plymouth Memorial Hall, 83 Court St., at 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 27. It will head down Memorial Drive, turning left onto Water Street, left onto South Park Street and left onto Court Street.

The parade will stop in front of Memorial Hall for opening remarks and a laying of the wreath at the WWII Memorial. The parade will then head South on Route 3A, with stops at the Korean and Vietnam Memorials on the lawn of the town hall on Main Street, where a wreath will be laid A ceremony will take place on the Training Green, and a sea dedication will follow at the State Pier.

Quincy

The city will host a Memorial Day parade starting 10:30 a.m. on Monday, May 27, followed by a ceremony to honor those lost. The parade will start at Quincy Credit Union, 100 Quincy Ave., and proceed down Hancock Street through Quincy Center and onto Sea Street before ending at Mount Wollaston Cemetery, 20 Sea St., for an observance that is expected to last from 11:45 a.m.to 12:30 p.m.

Chief Warrant Officer Nick Lavery will be the guest speaker. He is an active-duty member of the Army Special Forces.

Mayor Thomas P. Koch and Veterans Services Director Christine Cugini will also be participating.

Rockland

Rockland will hold a Memorial Day observance and ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday, May 27, at the Rockland Veterans Memorial, 101 Taunton Ave. The ceremony will include a grand marshal, Gold Star Family honors, several people reading patriotic tributes and the Rockland High School Band led by John Piazza and his trumpet.

Rockland fire and police honor guards will participate, as well as other community members. The Rockland Fire Department will also be flying the flag from their ladder trucks. Attendees are welcome to bring a lawn chair.

Parking will be available in the school parking lot. If weather conditions are poor, the ceremony will be moved to the high school auditorium, 52 Mackinlay Way.

Scituate

The town will hold its annual Memorial Day parade and ceremony Monday, May 27, beginning at 8 a.m. A flotilla will leave from the harbormaster’s office for the throwing of a wreath in honor of those lost at sea. The parade will start at 10:30 a.m. in front of town hall, 600 Chief Justice Cushing Highway. It will follow First Parish Road to Lawson Common, where a ceremony will begin at 11:15 a.m.

For more information, email Commander@scituatepost144.org.

In addition to the parade, a free Memorial Day bells concert will take place from 10-10:30 a.m., and again at 1 p.m. at Lawson Tower, 330 First Parish Road.

In case of inclement weather, the Lawson Common ceremony will be held at the Scituate Council on Aging, 333 First Parish Road.

Weymouth

Weymouth's Memorial Day activities begin at 8 a.m. Monday, May 27, with a wreath laying in Columbian Square. A Korean War memorial ceremony in Jackson Square follows at 9: 30 a.m.

The Memorial Day Parade will step off from Jackson Square at 10:15 a.m. and make its way to Weymouth Town Hall, 75 Middle St., which will be followed by Weymouth’s Memorial Day program at 11 a.m. at the Ralph Talbot Amphitheater next to Weymouth Town Hall.

In case of inclement weather, notices will be posted on the Weymouth Veterans Council's Facebook page, as well as the city's website.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Memorial Day events abound on the South Shore from Quincy to Plymouth