23-05-2025
Memorial Day 2025: Parades, ceremonies in Seacoast NH and southern Maine are listed here
Memorial Day is Monday, May 26. Here is a roundup of parades and observances planned in communities in Seacoast New Hampshire and southern York County, Maine.
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The Woodman Museum invites all to its ceremony on Monday, May 26, from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event begins at the museum, where guides will lead guests on a solemn walk to Pine Hill Cemetery for a Color Guard presentation, a performance of the national anthem, wreath-laying, a moment of silence, and a rendition of taps.
On Monday, May 26, at 10 a.m. there will be a remembrance ceremony at Memorial Park on Main Street with special guest speakers, musical tributes, laying of the wreath at Memorial Park and more.
Parade is Monday, May 26 at 10 a.m., starting at 67 Railroad Ave.
This year's parade will be led by grand marshal Arthur Baillargeon, a 96-year-old local veteran who has spent his life living in Exeter. The parade traditionally kicks off at Swasey Parkway at 10 a.m., and winds along Front Street to Gale Park, with guest speakers and a flag ceremony.
The American Legion Post 35 of the Hamptons invites the public to attend its observances on Monday, May 26. Ceremonies are at 8 a.m. at the Hampton Beach Marine Memorial; 9 a.m. in Hampton Falls at Weare Common; 10 a.m. North Hampton parade, followed by a gathering at the North Hampton School; and 11:30 a.m., parade through Hampton, followed by services at High Street Cemetery. This year's guest speaker is retired Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer Four Anthony Martino, who served nearly 25 years conducting intelligence operations and special missions during the Global War on Terrorism.
On Friday, May 23, at 11 a.m., the annual wreath-laying ceremony will be held in Prescott Park by the anchor sculpture. The ceremony includes a musical performance by the Portsmouth Middle School ensemble and a wreath-laying on the Piscataqua River to honor those service members lost at sea. This event will be rain or shine.
On Monday, May 26, at 10 a.m., the USS Albacore Submarine Memorial Park will host its annual Memorial Day ceremony. At 1 p.m., the city will host a brief ceremony at South Cemetery on South Street. In the event of rain, this ceremony will be held in City Hall council chambers at 1 Junkins Ave.
The Rochester Veterans Council will host a parade on Monday, May 26, starting at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Rosary Church on North Main Street, traveling to the Arched Bridge over the Cocheco River, where a brief stop will be made for a wreath memorial service. The parade will continue down North Main Street, passing through downtown, onto South Main Street, concluding just beyond the Rochester Common for ceremonies at the Field of Honor.
More: Flags of Honor returning to Rochester for Memorial Day weekend 2025
Services will take place at cemeteries across the city Monday, May 26: Forest Glade Cemetery at 9:15 a.m., Greek Orthodox Cemetery at 9:30 a.m., Mt. Calvary Cemetery at 9:45 a.m., Holy Trinity Cemetery at 10:15 a.m., and Tri-City Covenant Church Cemetery at 10:25 a.m. A parade will gather at the American Legion parking lot at 11 a.m. and step off at 11:30 a.m. Brief ceremonies will be held at the Veterans Memorial on Main Street and the Berwick/Somersworth Bridge.
Ceremony and parade will be held Sunday, May 25. Events begin at 9 a.m. at the Smithtown Monument in front of Trinity Church, presented by Seabrook's American Legion Post 70. Following the ceremony, the parade will step off from the Town Hall parking lot, proceeding across to Walton Road, then winding through Washington Street, Route 286, and South Main Street before concluding at Rand Church.
Parade and ceremony will be held Monday, May 26 at the Veterans Memorial Garden in Stratham Hill Park. The parade will begin at 1:30 p.m., followed by a ceremony at approximately 1:45 p.m. Stratham residents, local sports teams, civic organizations, extracurricular groups, and antique car owners are invited to participate in the procession. This year's guest speaker is Lt. Col. Travis Harvey, commander of the 64th Air Refueling Squadron, Pease Air National Guard Base.
The Webber-LeFebre Post 74 of the American Legion will lead a full day of observances on May 26. The day will start with visits to local memorials and cemeteries, beginning at 7 a.m. An assembly, complete with a concert by Kennebunk's high school and middle school bands, will take place at the town hall at 1 Summer Street at 1:30 p.m. The parade will also form at this time and step off from the town hall at 2 p.m. The procession will march south on Main Street, continue briefly onto High Street, turn left onto the short stretch of Friend Street, turn left again onto York Street, and return north to Main Street.
The Kennebunkport parade takes place Monday May 26, at 9:30 a.m. in Dock Square. The parade will proceed through Dock Square, continue along Western Avenue, turn around at the intersection of Post Road and Beach Avenue, and head back to Dock Square.
The Kittery/Eliot VFW Post 9394 will be hosting a ceremony at the Orchard Grove Cemetery, beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, May 26. The ceremony will feature local speakers.
The parade on Monday, May 26, will begin ay 8:30 a.m. in front of the Police Department on Main Street, move past Cumberland Farms and turn onto Market Street. It will then continue onto Wells Street (Route 9) where a wreath ceremony will take place on the bridge before going north onto High Street (Route 4) to the cemetery on Lebanon Road. After a ceremony, the parade will come back to the downtown area and stop at the memorial at Wells and Main streets where an additional remembrance ceremony will occur.
Wells will hold its parade on Monday, May 26, at 9 a.m. The parade will begin at Wells High School at 200 Sanford Road, will proceed east to Post Road, and will continue south to Ocean View Cemetery, where a brief ceremony will be held. The parade will feature local veterans, school bands, scout troops, and civic organizations.
The York Committee for Veterans Affairs will host its annual parade on May 26 at 10 a.m. The parade will begin at St. Christopher's Catholic Church on Route 1A and will proceed through town to the First Parish Cemetery at 180 York Street, where a ceremony with guest speakers will take place.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Memorial Day 2025: Parades, ceremonies in Seacoast NH and Maine
