2015 Memorial Day Parade Information

Updated from Matt Kelly (copied from his comment on Facebook to answer questions about the changes)

"as the coordinator of the parade I take offense to that. The route was changed because after almost 10 years of coordinating this parade both the marching veterans, the police and the I have had numerous discussions on the parade. The parade route was getting to long for the veterans that coordinate the parade with me, the police have concerns for safety of the children that march on Rt 140. 

Chris Nasuti Maguire the visit to both Union St and St Mary's cemeteries have not been removed from the ceremony. The American Legion and VFW are deciding if this will happen during the parade or on Sunday. As these are their brother and sisters I have left it up to them to decided when they want to pay their tributes to them. 

John Ristaino I am sorry for the people that won't see the parade pass in front of their house but my first concern is the veterans who walk each year and refuse to take a ride in donated cars, but instead walk, and the safety of our scouting groups. 

This is not a town sponsored event. For background information the VFW came to the Franklin Rotary Club almost 10 years ago and asked for help. At that time myself and several Rotarians stepped up and coordinated and planned the parade so it would not come to an end. We have operated the parade since we got involved using our own money and not any town or outside donations. We do this out of respect and devotion to our veterans. 

Before you cast your opinions, throw your stones and sign your petitions please stop and think that this is something that was done out of necessity and requests from the participants. 

Also, as the parade organizer feel free to ask a veteran to participate in the parade. Many of our marchers are elderly and very few veterans March out of pride. I beg and plead each year and very few show. So if you see a vet ask and encourage them to march. 

If you have additional questions, comments, constructive ideas please feel free to message me (on Facebook).

Participant Drop Off

If your group is participating in this year’s parade please see the attached drop off and muster location map. DO NOT HAVE ANYONE IN YOUR GROUP STOP ON RT140 AND DROP KIDS OFF. This is very dangerous and the last few years we have had some close calls with kids almost getting hit. Drop off should be done on West and East Streets and all people can walk to their muster location. This includes scouting troops and bands.

honor guard from 2014 parade

Parade Route:

The 2015 Parade route will begin at the Franklin Fire Station and proceed up Main St to Church St. We will no longer go down School St, Union St, or Beaver St. The parade will also no longer stop at Union St or St Mary's Cemetery's. Please see the attached update Parade Route Sheet.

Parade Information:

Date: Monday, May 25, 2015

Muster: 10am -10:15am - Group leaders must check in at the Franklin Historical Museum statue

Parade: 10:45 am

Ceremony: 12noon at the Franklin Town Common

What We Need From You:

Reply to this email with your~Troop, Group, Band information, contact person and ~estimated~ amount of participants in your group.

ALL participants must reply by May 15th

Forward this information to anyone who may need it in your Group, Troop, Band, or Organization
Email Matt@KellyColomboGroup.com with any questions.


Parade muster stations -  http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/020C066C-000F8513.1/Parade%20Muster%20Stations.pdf

Parade map -  http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/020C066C-000F8513.0/Parade%20Map.pdf

Memorial Day - Parade and Ceremony - Photo Essay

Photos from the Memorial Day parade and ceremony on the Town Common at the conclusion of the parade on Monday.

parade honor guard

Leaders of the Elks

Rep Jeff Roy and Senator Richard Ross

tolling the bell as roll call of those veterans who died in the last year were read

The names of those veterans can be found in the program posted here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/05/memorial-day-program-2014.html

placing the wreath

Additional photos from the parade and ceremony can be found in this set here
https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/sets/72157644469548388/

Memorial Day - Parade Route

• Parade begins at the Historical Museum on West Central Street at 10:45.
• Departs museum eastbound on West Central Street to Clark Square (the railroad overpass) at the junction of West Central and Main Streets.
• North on Main Street through the center of town to the Dean College gate where the parade will delay for a wreath laying at the Dean Memorial.
• North on Main to the corner of Main and School Street; then west on School Street to Union Street.
• South on Union Street to the corner of West Central and Union, turning west on West Central Street.
• Delay at Union Street Cemetery for a memorial, then continuing west on West Central Street to Beaver Street.
• East on Beaver Street to Saint Mary’s Cemetery where the parade will delay for another memorial.
• East on Beaver from Saint Mary’s Cemetery to the Town Common where the parade will terminate at approximately 12:00 noon
• Memorial Service will be held at the Town Common following the parade

BFCCPS marching band from the parade in 2013

You can download and print the route from this file

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczVHV0amdPT1B3UGs/edit?usp=sharing

cows on parade, now ladybugs!

The cows went on parade in Chicago in 1999.  The cow parade came to Boston in 2006.

The MBTA Map Cow

The cows have been on parade in many major cities around the world. For other photos, you can visit the website here http://www.cowparade.com/  and here  http://cowparade.phanfare.com/9999/

And now ladybugs will come to Franklin!

Do you know the story of the ladybug? if not then you should read this
https://www.sec.state.ma.us/cis/ciskid/kidlbs/lbsidx2.htm

Ladybugs Spots from Franklin Matters

Note: Franklin's ladybugs will be about 2 foot in size, not as large as the cows shown on parade in Boston

In the News: grand marshal, 4th fireworks, virtual school

Franklin July 4 parade grand marshal named

The Franklin July 4 Coalition Parade Committee has named Vietnam veteran Robert Gardner as this year's grand marshall of the annual Independence Day parade.  The parade is set for July 7, 2-3:30 p.m

Where's the fireworks? Check here

Fourth of July fireworks displays are an American tradition. Here's a list of local celebrations.

Local collaborative wants to start virtual school

A local education collaborative aims to be among the first in Massachusetts to start a virtual school, when the state begins accepting proposals later this year.

Franklin's 4th of July Schedule of Events

From the 4th of July Coalition webpage we find the schedule of events for Franklin's weekend. There will be no fireworks this year due to the construction at the new high school.

Donations to the 4th can be made by either downloading the form or via PayPal from the webpage.

Wednesday, July 3rd:	• 6pm-10pm Food Booths and Amusements Open • 7pm-10pm Digger Dawg Band
Thursday, July 4th:	• 11am-10pm Food Booths and Amusements Open • 11am-1pm D.J. Bob Brown • 1pm-4pm Local Youth Bands • 4pm-5pm Tyler Zajac (2010 "Franklin Idol" winner) • 7pm-10pm "Z" Band
Friday, July 5th:	• 6pm-10pm Food Booths and Amusements Open • 7pm-10pm Corvairs "Oldies" Band
Saturday, July 6th: Children's Day	• 11am-10pm Food Booths and Amusements Open • 12 noon Children's Parade • 1pm-2pm Vic and Sticks (Family Entertainment) • 2pm-3pm Flippo the Clown • 3pm-4pm Jamie Barrett (Franklin's Own) • 4pm-7pm Franklin Idol Contest • 7pm-10pm Groove Doctors Band
Sunday, July 7th:	• 1pm-7pm Food Booths and Amusements Open • 1pm-4pm D.J. Bob Brown • 2pm-3:30pm PARADE • 4pm-5pm Tyler Zajac • 5pm Idol Winners Announced

Updates to the schedule may be found on http://july4thfranklinma.com/

Memorial Day Parade

The parade is scheduled to start at 10:30 AM. The parade forms at the Historical Museum and will walk up Main St to the Town Common. The parade will make stops at Dean College and the monuments on the Town Common for brief ceremonies.

From last years parade, the Horace Mann Middle School Band:

Horace Mann Middle School Band

Candy is not banned, can't be thrown!

Candy is not banned from the Franklin 4th of July parade. It can be handed out. It can not be thrown. Did you miss the candy incident? It was mentioned in two "letters to the editor" published by the Milford Daily News here and here.

Jeff Nutting clarified with this note:

Apparently thowing candy to kids watching the pararde has not been allowed for some time. In the past young kids would run out into the street which caused safety concerns as well as delays in the parade. The folks that run the parade ( warren revelle) explained to all the participants about this policy. Apparently one person did not get the message and was ask to stop by the police.

And Jeff also sent along this email from Warren Revill representing the July 4th Coalition Parade Committee

For years now, the "no throwing candy" in the Franklin 4th July parade has been the rule ever since a young boy in New Hampshire slid under a float chasing candy and was killed. To avoid this and similar tragedies , the rule was put into effect. 

Participants are advised of this and other rules when they register, however the Callahans did not register this year, they just showed up. 

It's hard at" Staging Area" to review all the rules with everyone, especially when the participants are out of sight of parade management, they do what they want (i.e. throw candy). 

The Franklin Police did what was asked of them by enforcing that rule and seeing to they safety of the public. Sometimes one has to sound forceful to make people understand rules. (and be heard above the Parade noise.) 

We applaud the Franklin Police for all they do during the 4th of July Celebration (and the rest of the year). 

The "no throwing candy" rule will not change. The safety of the public and participants is our major concern, not candy! 

Franklin July 4th Coalition
Parade Committee
Warren Revell
Mike Kelly

Franklin, MA: Memorial Day Parade - 2012

A slideshow of the Memorial Day Parade through downtown Franklin, MA



Note: email subscribers will need to click through to view the photos

Franklin, MA: Memorial Day activities

Events today


Parade at 10:30 AM

The parade begins at the Historical Museum and ends at the Town Common. Last year the route was published as:

Marchers will line-up at the Historical Museum, 80 West Central St. The parade will travel on Main, School, Union, West Central and Beaver streets, ending at the war memorial on the Town Common. 

Marchers will stop at Dean College, Union Street Cemetery, St. Mary's Cemetery and the war memorial.

I have not found a confirmation on line that this would be the parade route but it makes sense that it would be again this year.


Garden Party 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

On May 28th, 2011 the King St. Memorial Community Garden official opened for gardening. Join us as we celebrate the our first successful first year of gardening, and the many years to come. There will be seedlings on hand for sale to support The Friends of Franklin Community Gardens efforts to continue to expand on the garden, and other events and activities. Drop by to share a story, a piece of cake, or just the view.

Read more on the Community Garden website  http://www.franklincommunitygardens.org/

In the News: scam alert, grand marshal, assessors

Franklin police warn residents of scam

by Jessica Trufant/Daily News staff

Bissanti Sr. grand marshal for Franklin's parade

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

New member needed for Franklin board

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

Court date set for teen suspected in Franklin home invasion

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

In the News - house fire, fallen heroes, parade

House fire deemed accidental

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

Franklin honors fallen heroes

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

FRANKLIN - The Memorial Day Parade will begin at 10:45 a.m. on Monday in downtown Franklin. 

Marchers will line-up at the Historical Museum, 80 West Central St. The parade will travel on Main, School, Union, West Central and Beaver streets, ending at the war memorial on the Town Common. 

Marchers will stop at Dean College, Union Street Cemetery, St. Mary's Cemetery and the war memorial. 

Any veteran who wishes to march should meet at the Historical Museum at 10:15 a.m. Vehicles will be available for veterans who do not want to walk the route.
The parade is sponsored by the Franklin Rotary.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x704496775/Area-towns-have-plans-to-celebrate-Memorial-Day#ixzz1Ne1C3NB8




Franklin, MA

Yes, there will be a celebration this 4th of July! You can help!

Fourth of July Coalition seeking volunteers

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

There is no question whether the town's Fourth of July celebration tradition will continue this year, said Michael A. Walker-Jones. "We're going to make it happen," said Walker-Jones, chairman of the Democratic Town Committee. He has been informally leading the Fourth of July Celebration Coalition steering committee with Michael Kelly.

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read the full article here.