Douglas Heritage Committee Sets Memorial Day Parade Route, Lineup for May 23

DOUGLAS -- May 14, 2026, Douglas revives its Memorial Day parade after a years-long gap, set for May 23 with scouts, horses, cattle, and a veteran advocate at the front of the march. The Douglas Heritage and Honor Committee met May 14 to finalize an 11 a.m. start from GBI on West Street, with the route running down Main Street and right onto Depot Street to two downtown memorials, a shorter path than the town historically used, chosen to limit road closures. Retired Army Major Vincent Sipizari, a representative of the Massachusetts Medal of Liberty program, will speak at both memorial stops after the committee was unable to secure a member of the clergy; at least three local churches were contacted and none were available. A Vietnam War veteran and Sons of the American Revolution member who attended the meeting offered to march and was immediately added to the lineup alongside a Civil War reenactor in period uniform. The committee, which operates entirely on donations with no town funding, described the event as a learning exercise ahead of the larger 250th Independence Day parade planned for June 27.