AGAWAM — Steve Cimma, an Air Force veteran, member of Agawam American Legion Post 185 and one of the organizers behind the town’s Memorial Day observances, wove his way through a crowd of onlookers Monday and peered up Main Street toward the distant sound of advancing marchers.
“This does us good,” he said of the parade. “It’s good to see people coming together again. It’s good to see people honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.”
For many around Massachusetts, Memorial Day marked the first time attending a public gathering in more than a year. Agawam, like most communities, did not have in-person Memorial Day observances last year because of the coronavirus pandemic. As more people get vaccinated and new cases wane, the state this weekend lifted its remaining COVID-19 restrictions.
Cimma said that in addition to Monday’s parade, people attended a series of commemorations veterans hosted at Agawam’s cemeteries and on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge.
Memorial Day is not supposed to be a festive kickoff to summer, he said.
“This is a solemn day for us,” he said.
A little while before the parade, Bob Griffin of Agawam walked his granddaughter, Lily, down a row of bronze tables. He traced his fingers over the names of those from Agawam who’d served in the nation’s wars as far back as the Revolution.
He said the day was about honoring the nation’s war dead. But he said it was also satisfying to see such a big crowd at a community event.
“It’s good to be coming back to normal a little bit,” Griffin said.
Agawam Mayor William P. Sapelli made the same observation, saying Monday’s parade — held in the morning dews and damps — had the biggest crowd he can remember.
Cimma said this is the first time Agawam has had its parade since 2018. The 2019 parade was rained out.
The parade featured the high school’s marching band and the Melha Highlanders bagpipe band, along with police and firefighters, Scouts and youth sports teams, as well as antique cars.
In Northampton, the village of Florence host its 153rd Memorial Day Parade, an event thought to be one of the oldest in the country.
Hadley dropped plans for its annual parade this year because of continuing COVID-19 concerns. However, it staged a number of events, including a Memorial Day ceremony at American Legion Post 271.
Ludlow residents gathered at the Veterans Memorial on East Street for a morning observance ceremony.
Westfield hosted an observance at Parker Memorial Park on West Silver Street, but not a parade.
West Springfield also hosted an observance, this one on Town Common.
The Ware parade was at 1 p.m. from Maple Street to Veterans Park.
Chicopee hosted events through the weekend.
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