Herald communities prepare for Memorial Day events

Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia speaks on the importance of Memorial Day during the 2024 ceremony.
Reminder Publishing photos by Trent Levakis.

Communities across Western Massachusetts and the country are ready to honor their deceased service men and women. Memorial Day events are set to take place in Chicopee, Holyoke and South Hadley on Monday, May 25.

Chicopee

The city of Chicopee will host its annual Memorial Day event on Monday, May 25, at 11 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial Plaza, 650 Front St. in front of Kevin A. Dupont Middle School.

Prior to May 25, Chicopee will have successfully flagged all its cemeteries with the help of many volunteers, according to Veterans Services Director Stephanie Shaw.

In the days leading up to Memorial Day, Chicopee’s local veteran organizations will visit Chicopee grammar and middle schools for a memorial service, a brief history of Memorial Day and placing of a wreath at school flag poles, followed by the pledge of allegiance and national anthem.

On Sunday, May 24, there will be a candlelight ceremony at 7 p.m. at the Vietnam Veterans’ Plaza on Chicopee Street hosted by the Vietnam Veterans of Western Massachusetts Chapter 111.

The public is invited to the 2026 Memorial Day activities on both the evening of May 24 and the morning of May 25.

The Chicopee Veterans’ Memorial and Patriotic Committee and the Chicopee Department of Veterans’ Services are asking that all Americans come together to recognize how fortunate we are to live in freedom and to observe a day of remembrance for those who have died in service.

“As Memorial Day approaches, it is time to pause and consider the true meaning of this holiday,” Shaw said. “Memorial Day represents one day of national awareness and reverence, honoring those Americans who died while defending our Nation and its values. While we should honor these heroes every day for the profound contribution, they have made to secure our nation’s freedom, we should honor them especially on Memorial Day.”

Holyoke

The city of Holyoke’s annual Memorial Day observance will occur on Monday, May 25, at 10 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial Park at Hampden and Maple streets.

The group will first convene at the War Memorial Building at 310 Appleton St. Doors will open from 8:30-9:15 a.m. for refreshments and setup for a procession.

The parade will start at 9:30 a.m. and the procession will proceed to the Korean War Memorial by City Hall, down High Street to the Gold Star Memorial on Lyman Street, before ending at Veterans Memorial Park on Maple Street and Chestnut for the Memorial Day ceremony.

Residents are welcome to join and observe. American Legion Post 325, located at 22 Sycamore St., will host lunch from noon to 2 p.m.

Holyoke’s Veterans Services Director Laddy Rua said, “It is truly an honor to help organize the Memorial Day event for the veterans and families of Holyoke. While there is a sense of pride in bringing the community together, the day itself carries a deeper meaning rooted in remembrance, reflection and gratitude. Memorial Day is a time to pause and honor those who served and made the ultimate sacrifice. It’s important that every aspect of the parade and ceremony reflects that purpose, ensuring we recognize their service with the respect and dignity they deserve.”

South Hadley

South Hadley has a full series of Memorial Day activities planned, beginning with the annual placement of flags on veterans’ graves and culminating in two town ceremonies on Memorial Day itself.

South Hadley maintains six cemeteries with approximately 5,000 veterans’ graves. Four of the smaller cemeteries will be flagged during the week of May 18–22 by local youth organizations.

A public flagging event will happen on Saturday, May 16, for Mater Dolorosa Cemetery and Notre Dame Cemetery, which together contain more than 2,600 veterans’ graves.

On Monday, May 25, South Hadley is hosting a Civil War monument ceremony at the Town Commons, 20 College St., at 8:45 a.m. The program will begin at approximately 9 a.m.

Immediately following this ceremony, attendees will proceed to Town Hall, located at 116 Main St. for the main program at 10 a.m. This year’s theme is “From Lexington to Today – 250 Years of Service and Sacrifice” and the ceremony will focus on honoring South Hadley’s fallen and missing across all eras. The program will highlight the town’s role from the founding of the nation to the present.

“It’s an honor to put together this year’s Memorial Day events for our veterans and their families. With the nation marking its 250th anniversary, it was important to me that our ceremonies reflect both South Hadley’s history and the sacrifices made across generations,” South Hadley Veterans Services Director Christopher Plotniak said.