Memorial Day events return

#Middlebury #MemorialDay

Middlebury Lions Club members set flags at veterans’ grave sites the Saturday before Memorial Day 2017. Undeterred by the pandemic, they placed flags for Memorial Day 2020 and will do the same this Memorial Day. (Terrence S. McAuliffe photo)

By MARJORIE NEEDHAM

Last year, when May rolled around we were into the second month of COVID-19 restrictions, and almost all the town’s traditional Memorial Day observations were canceled. There was no Lions Club program of remembrance, no gathering of veterans before the parade, no ceremony in front of Town Hall. One tradition did go on: the Lions Club placed U.S. flags on the graves of veterans in both cemeteries in town.

This year, for the first time in more than a year, we will be able to do more than place flags at our veterans’ graves. We will honor those who died serving our country as we have traditionally done each year.

Details on those events, along with information on the Middlebury Historical Society open house and the Middlebury Recreation Area season opening are listed below.

Saturday, May 29

Starting at 7 a.m., Middlebury Lions Club members will place flags on the graves of veterans buried in Middlebury cemeteries.

Sunday, May 30

Veterans’ Memorial Day Ceremony

Join the Middlebury Lions Club in paying homage to our fallen military heroes and all those who have served our nation’s military in a ceremony at noon at the Middlebury Cemetery on Route 64 behind Middlebury Garage. It will include an honor guard and rifle salute from the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Local Boy Scouts will raise the flag at the start of the ceremony and lower it as taps is played. Local clergy will offer prayers of invocation and benediction, Middlebury selectmen will speak, and Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address will be read by a member of Middlebury’s Boy Scout Troop 6, a troop for young women.

Veterans’ Reception

All veterans are welcome to attend a reception at 4 p.m. at the corner of Bronson Drive and Whittemore Road in Middlebury.

Middlebury Parade

The annual parade featuring Middlebury veterans, marching bands, town organizations, sports clubs, Scouts and local businesses will start at 5 p.m. The parade travels from Bronson Drive past the Green to Town Hall for a ceremony of remembrance.

If you want to participate or need parade route information, contact the Recreation Department at 203-758-2520.

Middlebury Historical Society Open House

The Middlebury Historical Society building on Library Road will be open for guests Sunday, May 30, from 3 to 6 p.m. Light refreshments will be served, and tours of the building will be offered.

In addition to the above events, Memorial Day Weekend is the weekend the Middlebury Recreation Area (MRA) opens for the season. Saturday, Sunday and Monday for the Memorial Day weekend. It will be open Saturday, May 29, and Sunday, May 30, from 10 a.m. to sunset and Monday, May 31, from 9 a.m. to sunset. MRA beach passes go on sale Wednesday, May 5. They can be purchased in the Park and Recreation office in Shepardson Community Center.