Happy May Everyone!! There are a lot of events for the month of May as we honor and commemorate Memorial Month. We here at Somerville Vets are proud to present four events to honor and recognize the service and sacrifice of so many. Below are a list of all of our upcoming events. There will be specific event pages for each event as well. If you have any questions, please give us a call.
Saturday, May 20th

Somerville Heroes Salute

Somerville High School Auditorium

11 AM

The 2017 Heroes Salute honors eight Somerville residents who have served our country and contributed to the overall fabric of our City. This year’s honorees are:

 

– Hero Square Dedication

These individuals will be honored with street corner dedications for service during combat operations and recognized for Valor and Heroism above and beyond the call of duty or Killed in Action.

– Ernest Bosia – Killed in Action – WWII

– Daniel Duffy – Killed iN action – Vietnam

– James Marques – Purple Heart Recipient – Korea

– Hugh McQuade – Purple Heart Recipient – WWI

 

Induction into the “Greatest Generation Hall of Fame”

This new award will honor Veterans for WWII service and their commitment to the City of Somerville by returning after military service to spend their lives in the City as a mentor, role model and friend.

– Lawrence Bolt

– William Duffy

– Alfred Soccorsso

 

Somerville “Profile In Courage” Lifetime Achievement Award

This new award honors a Somerville resident who has not only served their county in the armed forces but promoted civic engagement through community service and/or public service.

– Former Somerville Mayor and WWII Veteran – Eugene C. Brune

 

Sunday, May 21st ALL NEW!!

SOMERVILLE VETERANS’ MEMORIAL PARADE (formerly the Somerville Memorial Day Parade)

– 1:00 PM

– Step-off from Somerville City Hall

– Route: Highland Ave, through Davis Square, Holland Street to Holland and Broadway. 

– Parade will officially end at Teele Square

This year’s parade is one week earlier to encourage more community involvement as we honor our military and Veterans in a celebration of service. This year we also celebrate the 175th anniversary of the City of Somerville.   

This year’s theme is Honoring our Past…Engaging our future. We also honor women Veterans as our Grand Marshalls. This year we honor Vietnam-era Veteran Hazel Evans and Iraq and Afghanistan Veteran Theresa “Phe” Needham for their service to our Nation. The parade is the largest parade in years with 84 units that bring music, exhibitions and representations of our five branches of the armed forces, youth engagement, Somerville School, Veterans groups, and historical groups that tie in the historical significance of our City and celebrates its cultural diversity.    

 

Thursday, May 25th ALL NEW!!

Somerville Honor and Remembrance Ceremony

– 6:00pm

– Somerville Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery

o Broadway across from Clarendon Hill Towers

This ceremony is the Official Memorial Day Ceremony to honor Somerville’s Fallen Heroes. This event will be a candlelight vigil reflecting the true meaning of Memorial Day. Please don’t miss this opportunity to come together to continue our week of remembrance here in the City of Somerville.

 

Monday, May 29th (ALL NEW!!)

Memorial on the Mystic: The True Meaning of Memorial Day Dramatic Concert and Fireworks Tribute

– 7:30 PM

– Assembly Row on the Banks of the Mystic River (Stanley Baxter State Park)

This performance capstones the entire Memorial Week with a musical performance that illustrates the true meaning of Memorial Day and provides a message of hope for our country as we honor those brave men and women who paid the ultimate price for freedom. Written by Veterans’ Commissioner Bryan Bishop, this dramatic performance combines the talents of the Metropolitan Wind Symphony, vocal ensemble N ’Harmony and special performances by the Somerville All-City Chorus and the Somerville High School Chorus to present the true meaning of Memorial Day. The highlight of the evening will be a stunning fireworks display over the Mystic River honoring the service and sacrifice of all who serve and have served our Nation.