Dick & Scott talk about the changes to the 2025 Memorial Day Parade Route (audio)

FM #1435 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1435 in the series. 

This session shares my conversation with Dick Hynes and Scott Carruthers about the changes to the Memorial Day Parade for 2025. We recorded this conversation in the Franklin TV & Radio Studio on Thursday, April 17, 2025. 

• Dick Hynes, American Legion, Post 75 Commander

• Scott Carruthers, Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW Post 3402 Commander

We cover the following in our conversation

• Parade route route changed

• For better staging location

• Shorten parade to enable more veerans to participate

• Separate the cemetery ceremonies from the parade itself

• Dean & cemetery ceremonies start at 9:30 AM

• Parade starts at 11:00 AM

• Ceremony on the Town Common remains at noon time 

• About the American Legion & VFW

• Membership

• activities

The recording runs about 28 minutes Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1435-memorial-day-parade-04-17-25/

2025 Memorial Day Parade Route

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VFW page -> https://post3402.org/ 

American Legion page -> https://www.mapost75.com/ 

Parade Route Updated -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/04/did-you-hear-there-is-new-memorial-day.html  

Or -> https://post3402.org/post-news 

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The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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Franklin TV: Our Memorial Day Events

When and Where?

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 04/27/2025

 

In recent years Memorial Day has taken on greater import – as it should. It’s a time for solemnity and remembrance of our best and bravest when it mattered most.

We’re posting this information well in advance of events so veterans can call for breakfast reservations and parade arrangements.

VETERANS: If you wish to walk or ride in the Memorial Day parade, please call Veterans’ Services at 508-613-1315 by May 1st.

Memorial Day Breakfast - 9 AM to 11 AM, Friday May 23rd, at the Senior Center. Call the veterans’ services office at 508-613-1315 for reservations by May 9th.

The Memorial Day Parade – 11 AM, Monday May 26th.
From Horace mann Middle School to Oak, Daniel McCahill and Union Sts., left onto West Central, left onto Emmons, and left onto Main St. to the Town Common.

Memorial Remembrances will be held prior to the parade at cemeteries located at: Dean College, Union St. and St. Mary’s Church.

The Memorial Day Ceremony – Noon, Monday May 26th. Town Common.
We will recognize and honor our Franklin veterans who have passed since last Memorial Day as well as Franklin’s 45 fallen heroes who died in combat.

Please note: In case of rain please check our Veterans’ Services web page:
www.franklinma.gov/335/veterans-Services for updates.

Let us all remember –
We are the land of the free because of the brave.

And – as always –

Thank you for watching.
Thank you for listening to wfpr●fm.
And staying informed at Franklin●news.

 

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf   

Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA

Did you hear there is a New Memorial Day Parade Route for 2025?

New Memorial Day Parade Route

We have a NEW PARADE ROUTE!

As the Commander of the Franklin VFW Post I have the honor as serving as Co-Chair of the Parade Committee with my friend Dick Hynes, Commander of the Franklin American Legion.

The whole group has been working hard the last couple of months to plan the parade and one of the things we're doing is a new parade route.

The parade will kick off from Horace Mann Middle School at 11am on Monday, May 26th. It will head up Oak St (which turns into Daniel McCahill St) and then proceed down Union St to the old Davis Thayer school. The Parade will then turn left onto 140. The parade will again turn left onto Emmons St and then a left onto Main where it will head back to the Town Common.

This is a shorter route at 1.33 miles.

The parade will be continuous, there are no stops at the cemeteries or Dean College anymore (we are still doing those ceremonies, just moving them to before the parade).

We feel this new route will make it easier for our older veterans to march and smoother for the PD to accomodate.

Please see the attached map.

Please hit me with your questions, comments, complaints, etc.

We look forward to seeing you on the NEW PARADE ROUTE!

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BxwXnSjPQ/

New Memorial Day Parade Route

New Memorial Day Parade Route

Happy Monday Franklin!!

Today we are exactly 8 weeks from our Annual Memorial Day Parade!!

And we have a NEW PARADE ROUTE!

As the Commander of the Franklin VFW Post I have the honor as serving as Co-Chair of the Parade Committee with my friend Dick Hynes, Commander of the Franklin American Legion.

The whole group has been working hard the last couple of months to plan the parade and one of the things we're doing is a new parade route.

The parade will kick off from Horace Mann Middle School at 11am on Monday, May 26th. It will head up Oak St (which turns into Daniel McCahill St) and then proceed down Union St to the old Davis Thayer school. The Parade will then turn left onto 140. The parade will again turn left onto Emmons St and then a left onto Main where it will head back to the Town Common.

This is a shorter route at 1.33 miles.

The parade will be continuous, there are no stops at the cemeteries or Dean College anymore (we are still doing those ceremonies, just moving them to before the parade).

We feel this new route will make it easier for our older veterans to march and smoother for the PD to accomodate.

Please see the attached map.

Please hit me with your questions, comments, complaints, etc.

We look forward to seeing you on the NEW PARADE ROUTE!

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BxwXnSjPQ/

Franklin's Memorial Day Parade & Ceremonies - May 2025 (video)

The Franklin TV recording of the Memorial Day 2024 parade and ceremonies on the Town Common after the parade, is available for your viewing pleasure ->   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAWBlhHF9Nc

The Memorial Day 2024 Program (PDF) ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/11SRqPd_2ANSeQqaOsW4FHra-1PIPLcDv/view?usp=drive_link 

The "honor roll" of those veterans who passed during the prior year

https://drive.google.com/file/d/11YJ47V0TmSbAvgdM_9zcP7sDlg6vQRWN/view?usp=drive_link 

Franklin Matters' photos (for both the parade & ceremony) are found in one album ->  https://photos.app.goo.gl/J2La1uNmGpJrZhLj7 

MBTA Commuter Rail notice: head's up that travel on Friday (Jun 21) may be busy and with delays

The Celtics championship parade is on Friday, June 21st. 

Please consider if your travel is necessary, as crowds and delays for service in both directions are expected. 

Bikes will not be allowed on board.

Learn more: https://mbta.com/celtics

MBTA Commuter Rail notice: head's up that travel on Friday (Jun 21) may be busy and with delays

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Monday, May 27, 2024?

Monday, May 27 - Memorial Day

10:30am Parade (along Main St, School St, Union St, RT 140, Beaver St ...)

12 noon Memorial Day ceremony on Town Common

4:00pm Cruise Night in Franklin (Sierra's Pizza)

** No Town Meetings today

All town buildings closed for the holiday

trash/recycling pick up scheduled delayed one day

What's happening today in Franklin? 

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Why are there multiple calendars?

There is a Cultural events calendar upon which other community events are layered to create the Community calendar.

Respectfully, the Library and Senior Center calendars are too full of events to include all their events so we tend to focus on the major events. Town and School meetings are also kept separate. Links for all the calendars are shared here:

The Cultural calendar displays only the cultural events      https://www.franklinculture.org/things-do/pages/calendar

Find the full Community event calendar  https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://forms.gle/oPdi8X3ZbHHyrHzo6

The Library calendar of events ->    calendar link

The Senior Center calendar of events ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/node/39/events/month/39/2023-12

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar
The School district calendar is found  https://www.franklinps.net/calendar-by-event-type/26

Reminder: Franklin's Memorial Day parade route and schedule information for May 27, 2024

The Franklin, MA's Memorial Day parade route remains the same. The parade will step off at 10:30 AM from Depot St, proceeds up Main St. 

It stops briefly at Dean College for a wreath ceremony before continuing up Main St and turning on School St (at the Library). 

The parade turns again on Union St and stop for another wreath ceremony at the Union St cemetery. The parade resumes proceeding down RT 140 to Beaver St and turns toward the Town Common. 

It makes another stop at the St Mary's cemetery before completing the route at the Town Common. The final ceremony among the veterans memorials is scheduled for noon.

Memorial Day Parade & schedule 

Memorial Day Parade route

 

Memorial Day Parade Status Update

via Scott Carruthers: 

Hi Everyone 

- I’m the Commander of the Franklin VFW. First Vice Commander Dick Hynes of the Franklin American Legion and I are the co-chairs of the Memorial Day Parade Committee and we had our final preparation meeting tonight (Thursday, May 23, 2024).  

Things are looking good for the parade on Monday. 

We’ve been monitoring the weather and as of now the biggest threat of rain is later in the day. With that said, if we have to cancel the parade, we’ll make that decision jointly with the Franklin Veterans Service Office by 7 AM Monday. We’ll email the school band leaders, scout groups, veteran groups, etc. as well as post here and other social media sites so everyone gets the word.  

If you are planning to view the parade, please keep the sidewalks on the Town Common side of Church Square clear so that we can make sure our older veterans who are riding in vehicles have a safe, clear area to exit their vehicles.  

Hopefully we’ll see you along the parade route to honor and remember our fallen.

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/SxSPybMT993MTb5g/

Memorial Day Parade - 2023

Reminder: Franklin's Memorial Day parade route and schedule information for May 27, 2024

Franklin's Memorial Day parade route remains the same. The parade will step off at 10:30 AM from Depot St, proceed up Main St. 

It stops briefly at Dean College for a wreath ceremony before continuing up Main St and turning on School St (at the Library). 

The parade turns again on Union St and stop for another wreath ceremony at the Union St cemetery. The parade resumes proceeding down RT 140 to Beaver St and turns toward the Town Common. 

It makes another stop at the St Mary's cemetery before completing the route at the Town Common. The final ceremony among the veterans memorials is scheduled for noon.

Memorial Day Parade schedule

Memorial Day Parade route

Memorial Day Parade scheduled for May 27, 2024 at 10:30 AM

Franklin's Memorial Day parade route remains the same. The parade will step off at 10:30 AM from Depot St, proceed up Main St. 

It stops briefly at Dean College for a wreath ceremony before continuing up Main St and turning on School St (at the Library). 

The parade turns again on Union St and stop for another wreath ceremony at the Union St cemetery. The parade resumes proceeding down RT 140 to Beaver St and turns toward the Town Common. 

It makes another stop at the St Mary's cemetery before completing the route at the Town Common. The final ceremony among the veterans memorials is scheduled for noon.

Memorial Day Parade schedule

Memorial Day Parade route

Memorial Day Parade, Ceremony, and Taps Across America - Information & Reminders - May 29, 2023

Memorial Day Parade & Ceremony 

1 - Memorial Day Parade – Monday, May 29 - 10:30 AM 

Starts at Dean College, then proceeds to Union Street and St. Mary’s Cemeteries via School, West Central and Beaver Streets and concludes at the Town Common.

2 - Memorial Day Ceremony – Monday, May 29 - Noon 

Will be held on the Town Common by the War Memorial after the parade. Franklin Veterans who have passed since last Memorial Day as well as Franklin’s 45 fallen heroes who died in our nation’s combats will be recognized.

Please note: If it rains on May 29, please check the Veterans’ Services web page at: https://www.franklinma.gov/veterans-services for cancellation notice.

** Some Memorial Day reminders via John Hefele

"Hi Everyone, I wanted to let everyone know that the Memorial Day Parade route is the same as last year. See the photo below. 

As you can see, the parade does not go along Union St. 

Also, the town common side of Church Square is closed to spectators. This is to allow vehicles carrying veterans and the fire trucks access for drop off and fire truck parking. 

You can view the parade from the church side of Church Square. 

Areas are also roped off on the common and we ask spectators to honor these and not try to cross the ropes. 

Lastly, any chairs on the common are for parade participants and not spectators. 

Thank you.

John Hefele"

Shared from ->   https://www.facebook.com/groups/1551606135109407/permalink/3448551742081494/?mibextid=Nif5oz

And from Franklin Police:

*** MEMORIAL DAY PARADE ROAD CLOSURES ***

This Monday around 10:30 am there will be several roads closed in the downtown area for the annual Memorial Day Parade. You can expect closures of Depot Street, Main Street, West Central Street, Union Street, Beaver Street, and Church Square. We’ll see you there!

Shared from Instagram ->  https://www.instagram.com/p/CswQNZuryIJ/

3 - Taps Across America - 3 PM

Franklin resident Tim O'Toole will be participating in the Taps Across America Memorial Day playing of taps. Taps will be played all across America at 3pm local time. 3pm is the National Moment of Remembrance in honor of those who died in military service to the United States.

Tim will be playing taps on the Franklin Town Common on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29 at 3 PM.

MEMORIAL DAY PARADE ROAD CLOSURES

Memorial Day Parade route

Memorial Day Parade & Ceremony Schedule for May 29, 2023

"Honor our heroes at the Annual Memorial Day Parade on May 29, 2023! The parade will start at 10:30 AM at Dean College and the Ceremony will start at 12:00 PM on the town common. We hope you join us for our community day of remembrance."

Memorial Day Parade & Ceremony Schedule for May 29, 2023

Shared from the Town of Franklin Facebook page -> 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=580976554138872&set=a.426260902943772&type=3&mibextid=Nif5oz