Planning for Cheshire Memorial Day Parade Already UnderwayBy Brian Rhodes, iBerkshires Staff
12:50PM / Sunday, January 29, 2023 | |
 Cheshire's Memorial Day parade and ceremony has been held at Town Hall the past two years. The parade committee is planning a larger parade and the return of student essays being read. |
CHESHIRE, Mass. — The town is has already begun working on plans for its annual Memorial Day parade, scheduled for 1 p.m. on May 29.
The Board of Selectman voted to form a separate Memorial Day Parade Committee last year. Board Chair Michelle Francesconi gave an update on the parade at the board's meeting Tuesday, saying this year's festivities will include reading essays submitted by students of Cheshire, something returning from previous years.
"There's no limit to the amount of essays that we would accept. Any essays that don't get accepted to be read at that the event would be published in something, or at least be put up and made available," she said. "... [The parade] is also being opened up to any town business or vehicle. Whether it's tractors, anybody; farmers if they want to put their tractor in the parade and have that decorated in a patriotic way."
In addition to the other events, Francesconi said the Recreation Committee plans to give out certificates Diane's Twist. She explained that there will be no refreshments as a sign of respect to the holiday.
Selectman Ronald DeAngelis suggested having something toward a scholarship or some other prize for the winning essays. Selectman Shawn McGrath proposed inviting Cheshire youth baseball leagues and other teams to the parade.
Francesconi said they are changing parts of the parade route this year, but the exact path is still under consideration. The current plan is to have the vehicles enter through the St. Mary's Church parking lot, and from there, the parade would go out through the former Cheshire Elementary School driveway and up Church Street.
The route would avoid School Street and Leland Park, which will have seating and other ongoing work at the time. Francesconi said there should be a better police presence this year to assure traffic safety.
"The parade's going to be longer, so Route 8 is going to be shut down longer at that point in time. But we can put notices out in advance saying to avoid the area around that time on Memorial Day. But the parade should still be at 1 o'clock."
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