And a chilly march it was … in 28 photos >>
Players representing Boston firefighters.
UPDATED, April 16: A snow-showery morning gave way to a chilly Sunday afternoon as a shortened Patriots Day Parade marched to smaller-than-usual audience on April 15.
Among those in the lead were honorary grand marshal Elsie Fiore, the longest-serving Town Meeting member and environmental activist, as well as 2018 grand marshals Marine veteran Ray Moreno and George Barr, co-founders of the Leatherneck Honors Society of MA.
Monday: Do not join the Menotomy Welcoming Committee
Because of the weather, this event has been canceled: Greet the Lancers reenactors Paul Revere and William Dawes at Arlington Town Hall on Monday, April 16, on their way to warn residents that the Regulars are out.
Refreshments and kids’ crafts begin at 11 a.m.
Riders are expected around noon.
Follow the riders on Twitter: @greetRiders (Menotomy’s Waiting) #patriotsride.
This event is sponsored by the Arlington Committee on Tourism and Economic Development (ATED).
Here were the events April 15:
8 a.m. – Arlington Boys and Girls Club Fun Run;
Noon – Menotomy Battle reenactment;
2 p.m. – Parade kickoff
The fun run will begin at the Arlington/Lexington line on Mass. Ave. and finish at the Boys and Girls Club, 60 Pond Lane.
Menotomy Battle Reenactment – Jason Russell House, 7 Jason St.
The parade route will be on Mass. Ave. from Brattle Street to Adams Street. Residents should note that adjacent areas will be closed to traffic and should walk to the parade if they can. Click here to view the parade route and all road closures.
Arlington’s Patriot’s Day celebrations will kick off with the 54th Annual Arlington Boys and Girls Club Fun Run. The 2.5-mile event is open to all Arlington residents and members of the Boys and Girls Club. For more information, including registration, visit their website by clicking here.
Following the road race, a reenactment of the Menotomy Battle will take place at the Jason Russell House, the site of the most violent encounter during the Battle of Lexington and Concord. The reenactment is free to the public.
Stuart Brorson, Arlington Historical Society president, reported April 1 that the society is again pleased to host the Battle of Menotomy on the Jason Russell House lawn.
MORE PHOTOS >>
Reenactment details
The reenactment is set for noon Sunday, April 15, and is based on events that took place here during the British Retreat of April 19, 1775. “This reenactment is a beloved Patriots Day tradition in Arlington,” he wrote on the Arlington email list.
He quoted Menotomy Minutemen Capt. Jim McLean as saying: “‘The British companies attending the event include the 4th, 10th and 27th Regiments of Foot. The Colonial units will be represented by the Danvers Alarum Company, Gardner’s Regiment, and the Acton and Menotomy Minutemen. Huzzah!'”
Following the reenactment, the Jason Russell House will open to the public for tours.
Parade details
The annual Patriots Day parade will conclude the day’s events and will be held rain or shine. In order to help defray costs associated with the parade, the Parade Committee is seeking donations.
Donations of any amount are appreciated and can be made online by clicking here or by mailing a check to the Arlington Patriots Day Committee, c/o Veterans’ Services, 730 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington, MA 02476.
For more information about the parade, click here.
For more information about the parade and other activities that will be held on parade day, please visit arlingtonma.gov/parade Patriots’
The Board of Selectmen approved the following on Feb. 26:
On April 15, at 8:45 a.m., the 54th Annual Fun Run, a 2.7-mile run along Mass. Ave. will be held. It starts at the Lexington line and ends at Arlington Bous and Girls Club.
At noon that day is the Menotomy reenactment at the Jason Russell House by the Arlington Historical Society and Menotomy Minute Men. This event reprises the battle in April 1775 at Mill Street and Mass. .Ave, as reenactors proceed from Arlington High School to Jason Russell House. Tin 2017 again included a battle reenactment on the lawn of the Jason Russell House.
At 2 p.m. the parade setps off on Mass Ave, from Forest Street to Foster/Linwood streets, passing Town Hall.
In 2017, on Sunday, April 23, the town’s Human Rights Commission kicked off its project, called Arlington for All, to highlight diversity.
Those involved plan to march “as a visible representation of our diverse town,” a rights commission newsletter says.
The grand marshal was Roly Chaput, who died in January 2016. His widow, Janet, represented him in a car driven by Bob Bowes, prominent town Realtor.
The honorary grand marshals were the state-champion Arlington High School hockey team, among others.
In addition to the traditional events, “We plan to provide #arl4all flags for marchers and to give out candies from many countries. We encourage people to join us in garb representing your ethnic background, faith community, school, LGBTQIA+ pride colors, etc.”
Information from town website
April 15 Patriot’s Day Parade 2PM
View a map and full details at arlingtonma.gov/parade.
Traffic and Parking Restrictions
Much of Mass. Ave. around the parade route will be closed and parking restricted, please plan accordingly.
– Beginning at 8 a.m., there will be no parking on Mass Ave. Lowell St., Forest St., and Acton St.
– Appleton St. will be closed to through traffic
.- At 11:45 a.m., Mass Ave between Park Ave and Pleasant St. will be closed to all traffic
.- At 1 p.m., Mass Ave, between Pleasant St. and Linwood Ave, will be closed to all traffic.If you live on a dead end street along the parade route, please plan accordingly. All closures and restrictions will be lifted by 5 p.m.
2017 grand marshal
Roly Chaput addresses selectmen. / Barbara C. Goodman photo
Honored last year was the late Roland E. Chaput. His wife, and family were honored to “Ride for Roly.”
Roly was a Korean War Army Veteran who served his country with distinction from July 9, 1953, to June 2, 1955. Not only serving his country, Roly served his community and made significant contributions to Arlington.
He was a Town Meeting Member for more than 44 years; he served on the Redevelopment Board, Conservation Committee, and on the Boards of the Friends of Robbins Farm Park, the Dallin Museum, and the Arlington Committee on Tourism and Economic Development. Roly had a tremendous influence on all those he served with, both near and far, and it is with great pride he is honored as the 2017 Grand Marshal.
Honorary grand marshals
Honorary Grand Marshals for the 2017 Patriots’ Day Parade were the Arlington High School Boys’ Hockey Team – Super 8 champions, making Arlington “Hockey Town” again.
This marked the first Super 8 Championship in Arlington High School History and the first hockey state championship since 1971. Arlington became the first public school to win the Division 1A title since Hingham in 2017, and just the third in the 27-year history of the tournament.
As Coach of the Year, John Messuri stated, “I think it’s just good for all of high school hockey that a group of seniors and juniors that could have left and played at any prep school stayed and you can’t trade that. It’s a win for high school Hockey.”
OLD PHOTOS: 1957 parade | 1975 | 1925 | 1896 | NEW PHOTOS: REENACTMENT, PARADE
Jan.-April 2017: How this year’s Patriots Day Parade looked to me
April 18, 2016: Patriots Day Parade marches again after a year of
April 4, 2015: No Patriots Day parade, but look at what was held
2012 parade honors Greeley family
This news announcement was published Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018, anf updated April 16.
