LEOMINSTER — The city marked Memorial Day with a traditional full lineup of weekend events designed to honor the fallen and pay tribute to their ultimate sacrifice.
The White Cross Twilight Ceremony was held at the Leominster Veterans Center on Friday evening, May 22, and flags were placed on veteran’s graves at Evergreen, St. Leo, and St. Cecilia’s cemeteries bright and early Saturday morning.
Monday saw ceremonies at locations across the city including Monument Square downtown, the cemeteries, Johnny Ro Veterans Memorial Park, and Memorial Circle at Carter Park. Many local officials and veterans take part in the parade that goes from Evergreen Cemetery, past Pine Grove Cemetery — the oldest one in the city with Revolutionary War veterans buried there — ending at Carter Park.
In addition, city police and fire, Boy Scouts troops, members of Blue Star Mothers MA Chapter 1, the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, and others were in the parade and Leominster High School musicians played “Taps’ at stops.
The rain did not dampen the spirits of all the community members who attended, including city resident Sandra Lampa, who captured poignant photos of the day. Her two sons who are in Boy Scouts Troop 151 marched in the parade and she said she felt compelled to photograph it all.
“I truly enjoyed doing it, such an honor,” Lampa said. “I needed to get photos, it’s important.”
City Councilor Carrie Noseworthy was one of the speakers featured on Monday and shared these moving words during the solemn ceremony at St. Leo Cemetery.
“Memorial Day is more than the beginning of summer or a day off from work. It is a day paid for by courage, sacrifice, and duty. It belongs to the young soldier who never saw old age, the medic who ran toward danger, the sailor lost at sea, the airman who never returned, and to the families who carry that loss for the rest of their lives and through the generations,” the Army veteran and city resident expressed. “Here in this cemetery, among these quiet stones, we are reminded that freedom is never free. Every name here represents a story — a son, a daughter, a husband, a wife, a partner, a friend. People with dreams and futures who answered the call of their country.
“As Americans, we owe them more than words. We owe them remembrance. We owe them lives worthy of their sacrifice. We owe them a nation that continues striving toward honor, unity, and service to one another, now more than ever. In these deeply divided times, we must remember who we are, who we can become and not give in to complacency or division,” Noseworthy continued. “To the Gold Star families here today: your sacrifice is remembered, and your loved ones are not forgotten. They say that simply speaking the names of those lost is one way to keep their memories alive. As community members, let’s continue to do that for the fallen—to ensure we keep their memories alive for the duration.
“And to all veterans and those currently serving who are gathered here, may we continue to carry forward the values our fallen brothers and sisters fought to defend. Today, let us leave here with gratitude in our hearts, humility in our spirit, and a renewed commitment to never forget those who gave what President Lincoln called ‘the last full measure of devotion.’
May God bless our fallen heroes, our veterans, those currently serving, all of their families whose lives are forever shaped by service and sacrifice, and the United States of America.”
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