The Baker-Polito Administration released the below video from Governor Charlie Baker's remarks at the Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund Memorial Day Ceremony last Thursday in honor of Memorial Day.
The Governor paid tribute to all fallen military heroes and expressed his gratitude and condolences to the service members' families and loved ones.
See The Video Below
"I don’t remember if it was four or five years ago, but I was driving up Beacon Street on a Saturday and I caught a glimpse of this display out of the corner of my eye and I pulled over and I walked over here and spent a few minutes just looking at this incredible display and realizing that behind every single one of those flags was a story and a person and a family and a set of loved ones and a commitment to an ideal that was higher than themselves for which they paid the ultimate price and that is why it is so important that we never forget, because believe me, the families and the friends of those that make up these flags will never forget their friend or family member and the loss and the pain that was associated with that sacrifice but there is some comfort for them in knowing that there is an army of Massachusetts citizens standing behind them who remember, appreciate, and honor the service and the sacrifice that was made by their family member," Baker said.
Baker was joined by Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Mayor Marty Walsh, Secretary Francisco Urena, and Stephen Kerrigan, the President of the Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund.
Baker has ordered that the United States flag and the Commonwealth flag be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings from sunrise until noon and full staff from noon until sunset on Monday, May 30th, 2016. The order applies to the main or administration building of each public institution of the Commonwealth, other state-owned or state-controlled buildings and all state military installations.
Related Slideshow: 25 Ways to Celebrate Veterans in Central Mass & New England - 2016
The Charlton Memorial Day Parade will start at 2 p.m. on Monday rain or shine. The parade will begin at the Masonic Home and proceed to the front of the town's Library at Dexter hall.
The Shrewsbury Memorial Day Parade will start at 9:30 a.m. on Monday from the Richard Carney Municipal Office building and makes several stops along the way.
The parade stops at Soldier's Statue in front of the Police Station on Maple Ave, War Memorial at the Town Center and at the Veterans Lot at Mountain View Cemetery.
At this year's ceremony, Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor, Karyn Polito will speak at the Town Center.
The East Brookfield Parade starts at 11 a.m. at the town complex and goes to Evergreen Cemetery where there will be a ceremony and then goes to Depot Square where there will be a final ceremony and laying of wreaths.
The Paxton Memorial Day Parade will take place starting at 8 a.m. with a Boy Scout breakfast. The actual parade will begin at 10 a.m. followed by a ceremony.
The Leicester Memorial Day Parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the Memorial School and proceeding north on Pleasant Street tot he Town Common where ceremonies will be held.
Operation Stand Down's Boots on the Ground Memorial
Operation Stand Down RI (OSDRI) will host the first annual Boost on the Ground for Heroes Memorial this Memorial Day weekend from Friday, May 27 at 5 p.m. to Monday May 30 at 4 p.m. Overall, OSDRI will place 6,844 boots in the field by the Temple to Music at Roger Williams Park throughout the weekend.
A formal ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 28 at 11 a.m. where Sgt. Major Todd Parisi will deliver the keynote address.
The event will honor all of Rhode Island's veterans American heroes who were killed in action defending the country during the war on terror by marking their lives with a boot, a flag and a name placard.
Battleship Cove in Fall River will host an observance at noon in order to honor and remember the men and women who dedicated and dedicate their lives to protecting the country.
The ceremony will consist of a the raising of the flag from half staff as well as a 21 gun salute.
Witness for Peace Concert in New London Connecticut
The Witness for Peace Concert will take place at 10 a.m. on State and Bank Streets in New London on Monday. The concert will feature a soldiers and sailors memorial.
Mystic Seaport in Mystic Connecticut will put on a re-enactment by costumed role-players of an 1876 tribute and procession honoring those who had fallen in the Civil War on Monday.
The reenactment includes the roll of the dead in Fishtown Chapel, observance in Greenmanville Church and a procession to Middle Wharf as well as music of the Civil War fife and drum program.
Portsmouth, New Hampshire Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony
The Portsmouth Memorial Day Parade and ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. starting at Parent Avenue parking lot and will conclude with a ceremony at South Street Cemetery.
Every year, the Massachusetts Military Heroes organization plants a Garden of Flags, over 37,000 of them in front of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument on Boston Common.
Flags have been planted since May 25 and will remain until sundown on May 30.
The Manchester Memorial Day Parade will be begin at 2 p.m. starting at Webster Street. The parade will conclude with a wreath laying ceremony at Veterans Park.
Portland Memorial Day Parade begins at 10:15 a.m. at Longfellow Square and proceeds down Congress Street to Monument Square where ceremonies will take place.
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