More than 70 Units Step off from City Hall Concourse at 1:00 p.m. Somerville-based Professional Women’s Soccer Team, Boston Breakers, to March for the First Time in 2012

The annual Memorial Day Ceremonies, concluding with the largest Memorial Day Parade in the region, are set for Sunday, May 27, beginning at 8 a.m.  Sponsored by American Legion Post #19 in conjunction with the Somerville Allied Veterans’ Council, scheduled events will begin at 8:00 a.m. at the American Legion Post #19, 124 Highland Ave., with a short procession down Highland Ave. to the Central Library and the  placing of wreaths on monuments along Central Hill Park.  The parade will step off from the City Hall/Somerville High School concourse at 1 p.m., and will proceed for 2.3 miles down Highland Ave. to the Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Teele Square. The parade will conclude in Veterans Memorial Cemetery with a ceremony of remembrance for fallen Somerville veterans under the supervision of the Somerville Allied Veterans Council.

The parade will include 12 marching bands, along with a wide range of community and school groups, the popular specialty units of the Aleppo Shriners, as well as representatives of local veterans’, fire, and police units from surrounding cities and towns. For the first time, the parade will include a professional women’s soccer team, the Boston Breakers who will march with players and coaches from the Somerville Youth Soccer League. The Breakers recently moved their home field to Somerville’s Dilboy Stadium; where their next home game is scheduled for Saturday, May 26th.

Beginning at Somerville High School, the parade will continue along Highland Avenue, through Davis Square to Holland Street, and onto Broadway before ending at the Cemetery in Teele Square. Ceremonies will be held rain or shine.

The 2012 Parade Grand Marshall, Dan Hovanesian, is a Marine Corps veteran, having served in the Vietnam War from 1968-1971.  As a forward artillery observer, he regularly flew behind enemy lines in small aircraft, and was seriously wounded when a shell exploded almost on top of him. He received the Silver Star, 2 Bronze Stars, Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Air Medal, Navy Commendation Medal and other awards. After the military, he worked as an attorney for many years. He presently lives in Somerville with his wife, Carol.

To accommodate the parade, the following streets will have parking restrictions from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., and street closures beginning at approximately 9:30 a.m.

Highland Ave. (Walnut St. to School St.)
Prescott St. (Summer St. to Highland Ave.)
Putnam St. (Summer St. to Highland Ave.)
Vinal Ave. (Summer St. to Highland Ave.)
School St. (Medford St. to Highland Ave.)
Walnut St. (Medford St. to Highland Ave.)
College Ave. (Morrison Ave. to Davis Sq.)
North St. (Powderhouse Blvd. to Broadway)
Alewife Brook Parkway (to Dilboy)

Beginning at 11 a.m., there will also be no parking on either side of the following streets (and in front of the Somerville Veterans Cemetery from North St. to Route 16).  These restrictions will be lifted immediately following the parade:

Highland Ave. (Walnut St. to Davis Sq.)
Holland St. (Davis Sq to Teele Sq.)
Broadway (Holland St. to Route 16)
Dilboy Field
Little Sisters of the Poor – 186 Highland Ave.

Please note that the Number 88 MBTA bus route to and from Clarendon Hill will not be running from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

For more information, please contact Veterans’ Services at 617-625-6600 ext 4700.