Montgomery County will honor its fallen local heroes lost in armed conflicts with ceremonies and events throughout Memorial Day Weekend Saturday-Monday, May 25-27. The biggest events will be the traditional City of Rockville ceremonies followed by its annual parade on Monday, May 27. Rockville will host two days of the free Hometown Holidays Music Fest on May 25-26 at its RedGate Park. Over the weekend, the City of Gaithersburg will again have its “Flags of Honor” Display.
There will be ceremonies conducted by the Greenberg-Lerner Post 692 of the Jewish War Veterans of the USA on Sunday in Rockville and on Monday, Jewish War Veterans Post 360, American Legion Post 268 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2562 will hold solemn ceremonies in Wheaton.
Memorial Day is a Federal holiday in the United States that is observed on the last Monday of May. The purpose of Memorial Day is to commemorate the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle. The holiday originated during the American Civil War when flowers were placed on the graves of those who had been killed in battle.
Rockville’s Memorial Day events will start at 9 a.m. on May 27, with music from the Rockville Concert Band and the Rockville Chorus on Maryland Avenue in Rockville Town Square. Formal ceremonies begin at 9:30 a.m., followed by the parade that each year is one of the largest in the Washington Region. The parade’s origins date to 1944. The grand marshal for this year’s parade will be Stephen P. Johnson, a historian at the Department of Defense’s POW/MIA Accounting Agency. At the agency, he works to provide the fullest possible records and accounting of missing personnel to their families and the nation. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich is among those expected to be in the parade’s line of march.
The Hometown Holidays Music Fest on Saturday-Sunday, May 25-26, will have free concerts from noon-7 p.m. each day at RedGate Park, which is located at 14500 Avery Road in Rockville. Hometown Holidays will include kid’s activities and food and drink vendors. More information about Hometown Holidays is available at www.rockvillehth.com.
For more information about the Rockville events, call 240-314-8620 or email specialevents@rockvillemd.gov.
Montgomery County’s other Memorial Day ceremonies and events will include:
Rockville’s Memorial Day events will start at 9 a.m. on May 27, with music from the Rockville Concert Band and the Rockville Chorus on Maryland Avenue in Rockville Town Square. Formal ceremonies begin at 9:30 a.m., followed by the parade that each year is one of the largest in the Washington Region. The parade’s origins date to 1944. The grand marshal for this year’s parade will be Stephen P. Johnson, a historian at the Department of Defense’s POW/MIA Accounting Agency. At the agency, he works to provide the fullest possible records and accounting of missing personnel to their families and the nation. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich is among those expected to be in the parade’s line of march.
The Hometown Holidays Music Fest on Saturday-Sunday, May 25-26, will have free concerts from noon-7 p.m. each day at RedGate Park, which is located at 14500 Avery Road in Rockville. Hometown Holidays will include kid’s activities and food and drink vendors. More information about Hometown Holidays is available at www.rockvillehth.com.
For more information about the Rockville events, call 240-314-8620 or email specialevents@rockvillemd.gov.
Montgomery County’s other Memorial Day ceremonies and events will include:
- City of Gaithersburg. Flags of Honor Display. Bohrer Park at Summit Hall Farm (next to Gaithersburg High School), 512 S. Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg. Opening ceremonies will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 25. A “Flag Retirement” ceremony for the display will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 26. Each year since 2014, a display of 750 eight-foot American flags is erected to honor members of the military, police, firefighters, teachers, coaches, mentors and community leaders. More information about the event is available at Flags for our Heroes – Flags for our Heroes.
- Gaithersburg’s Memorial Day Observance is traditionally held on the day once universally recognized as Memorial Day. Thursday May 30. 11 a.m.-noon. Christman Park, 304 West Deer Park. Loyalty and patriotism will be on full display as the City joins the nation in honoring all who have given their lives in military service at its Memorial Day Observance. The guest speaker for the event will be retired Navy Commander Robert Carlisle, United States Navy Reserve. Commander Carlisle is a 1988 graduate of the United States Naval Academy and has served more than 20 years in active duty and reserve positions as a surface warfare officer, nuclear engineer and information operations officer. During his naval career, he circumnavigated the globe while completing three deployments to the Indian Ocean, Mediterranean and Southeast Asia areas of operations. The patriotic ceremony will include words and music to commemorate the occasion, followed by a solemn wreath-laying ceremony. At the event, guests will be invited to fill out a card and provide a 4x6 photograph for a Book of Tribute, honoring friends and family members who serve. More information about the ceremonies is available at Memorial Day Observance | Gaithersburg, MD (gaithersburgmd.gov).
- Greenberg-Lerner Post 692 of the Jewish War Veterans of the USA. Sunday, May 26. 2:30 p.m. Bender Jewish Community Center, 6125 Montrose Rd. Rockville. There will be a wreath-laying ceremony. The keynote speaker will be Colonel Frank Cohn, a veteran of the Battle of the Bulge in World War II who also served in Vietnam. Names will be read of fallen heroes of Post 692. Music will be provided by Voices of Vets. Light refreshments will be served.
- Jewish War Veterans Post 360, American Legion Post 268 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2562 ceremonies. Monday May 27. 11 a.m. Wheaton Veterans Urban Park, 11200 Amherst Ave., Wheaton. Event will feature a guest speaker and services. A light lunch will be offered to all who attend at Post 268. Seating is limited at the ceremonies. It is suggested that attendees bring a folding chair if needed.
