A Resident's Guide to Medfield's Memorial Day 2012

It is often a weekend associated with cookouts and the unofficial beginning of summer, but Memorial Day is truly a day to remember the military veterans who died in service – sacrificing their lives for our country's freedom.

"Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service," said USMC Lt. Col. Todd M. Caruso, a Medfield native who will be giving the Memorial Day address at this year's ceremony. "We are a grateful nation to these heroes. It is important to not forget about them as we enjoy our freedom to gather to enjoy the get-togethers with our family and friends."

Medfield will pay tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and our country on Monday, May 28th with the town's annual Memorial Day Parade, which begins at 9:45 a.m. behind Town Hall on Janes Avenue.

Here's an overview on how the parade and ceremonies will be conducted.

Memorial Day 2012 Parade and Ceremonies:

The parade begins at 9:45 a.m. behind the Town Hall on Janes Avenue, marching directly to Baxter Park at the corner of Routes 27 and 109, where a brief ceremony will be conducted beginning at 10 a.m.

Following the singing of the Star Spangled Banner by student Caroline Richard, Reverend Leroy Owens of will offer an Invocation. 

Retired Medfield Police Chief William Mann will once again officiate this year’s ceremony. seventh Grade student Liam Dewey will recite the Gettysburg Address after which Rob Gregg will offer a musical reflection on the bagpipes.

. Caruso is a Medfield native, having graduated from Medfield High School in 1986. He currently is assigned to Naval Air Depot, Cherry Point, N.C., where he is an executive officer of the Prowler Marine Wing Support Group 27. He deployed to Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM in 2005 and to Iwakuni, Japan in 2006. He was deployed to Bagram Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in May 2010. , Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (15th Award with combat strike), Navy Commendation Medal, and the Navy Achievement Medal.

Besides keeping cadence and offering marching songs during the parade route, the Medfield High School band under the direction of Doug Olsen, will offer a patriotic selection. Following the placing of wreaths by American Legion Commander Frank Iafolla and Past Commander Al Manganello, the American Legion honor guard will offer a three-volley salute. Medfield High School students Annette Curbow and Grace Murray will perform taps.

The parade will reassemble with 110 veteran members leading the parade with all area veterans and active duty service personnel invited to march by their side. Included in the procession will be Medfield selectmen, The American Legion Auxiliary, Sons of the American Legion, , , Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Lions Club and Medfield’s High School Band.

The parade will then head to Vine Lake Cemetery for a salute to those who died at sea, then stop again at the veterans section of the cemetery honoring all those Missing in Action. The parade leaves Vine Lake heading to its final destination at the American Legion Beckwith Post 110 building on Peter Kristof Way. Upon arriving at the Post 110, one final three-volley salute will be offered in honor of all Service Men and Women, followed by the raising of the Flag by Boy Scout Troop 89. 

Parade participants are then invited to retire into the Legion Hall. Refreshments will be offered as prepared by the Sons of the American Legion.

Donations to help offset the cost can be made out to the “Town of Medfield” with a designation note for the “Memorial Day Gift Account” and either dropped off at Town Hall or mailed to Evelyn Clarke at Medfield Town Hall, 459 Main St. The American Legion Ladies Auxiliary will be offering poppy’s for a donation. Those donations are used to support their organizations efforts to aid Veterans, especially those at the VA Hospital in West Roxbury.

In case of inclement weather, the entire Memorial Day ceremony will be held inside the American Legion Hall.

More About Memorial Day

According to http://www.usmemorialday.org, Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873 and by 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war. It is now celebrated in almost every state on the last Monday in May.