Sudbury’s Memorial Day Parade and Grinnell Park Ceremonies take place on the last Monday in May. In 2025, the date is May 26. Come, view the parade or march with us as we visit Sudbury’s War Memorials. Honor an outstanding Sudbury citizen serving as Parade Marshal, and hear the Sudbury Ancient Fyfe and Drum Companie play and the Sudbury Companies of Militia and Minute fire musket salutes.

The Parade and Ceremonies honor veterans of all wars that involved Sudbury residents starting with King Philip’s War of 1676 through the 21st Century. During these Memorial Day events, we especially remember men and women who lost their lives in service of their country.

Allan Wallack, a U.S. Air Force veteran and Sudbury resident, will serve as 2025 Parade Marshal.

The Parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. at Rugged Bear Plaza, 410 Boston Post Road, where the Parade Marshal, Scouts, and a delegation from the Native American Cultural Center will join members of the Sudbury Military Family Network and veterans’ organizations, the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Sudbury Companies of Militia and Minute, and the Sudbury Ancient Fyfe and Drum Companies. Musket salutes will be fired at each parade stop by the Sudbury Companies of Militia and Minute.

All veterans are invited to join in the line of march at Rugged Bear Plaza. Uniforms are not required. Civilian clothes which respect the dignity of the occasion
(dark slacks, white dress shirt, and hat that identifies your branch of service or veterans’ organization are appropriate). Transportation will be provided for those who wish to participate but feel they are not capable of marching along.

The Parade marches east along Route 20 then north on Concord Road, with stops at the Goodnow Library Civil War Monument, the Wadsworth Monument (King Philip’s War), and the World War II, Korean and Vietnam Memorials at Wadsworth Cemetery.

As the parade continues north on Concord Road, Brownies and Daisies join the marchers at  Ascension Parish. At about 11:00 a.m. the parade reaches Grinnell Park in the town center for the Memorial Day Program.

Girl Scouts will sing, and the Ancient Fyfe and Drum Companie will perform musical selections followed by musket salutes. Saesha Shetiya, a Curtis Middle School student, will sing the National Anthem. Sudbury’s Thursday Garden Club will dedicate two benches installed near the Blue Star Marker, and the United Native American Council will perform a ceremony of peace. The Council has performed this ceremony for over 30 years during the Sudbury Memorial Day observance. Parade Marshal, Allan Wallack, will be recognized and deliver remarks. Finally the names of Sudbury veterans who have passed since last Memorial Day are read aloud. Taps will be played by U.S. Navy Captain (Retired) Paul Mawn.

Colonel Al Bonazzoli Gravestone at Wadsworth Cemetery