Baldwin will honor fallen service members with its annual Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 25, bringing veterans, students, first responders and community groups together for one of the community’s longstanding traditions.
The parade, organized by Baldwin American Legion Post 246, is scheduled to step off at 9:50 a.m. and follow a familiar route through the heart of Baldwin. Marchers will head south on Grand Avenue, cross Sunrise Highway and continue along Merrick Road before ending at Silver Lake Park, home of the Baldwin Veterans Memorial Plaza.
The Baldwin High School marching band is expected to perform during the procession, joining local veterans, fire and police departments, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, civic groups, businesses, religious and fraternal organizations and other community groups. The parade gives residents a chance to gather along the route, wave flags and show support for those who served, while also reflecting on the meaning of Memorial Day.
A commemorative remembrance ceremony will be held at Silver Lake Park after the parade. According to Baldwin Post 246, the ceremony will begin about 15 minutes after the final marching unit arrives at the park, typically between 11:10 and 11:15 a.m.
Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday in May, honors members of the U.S. armed forces who died while serving the country. While the holiday is often associated with the unofficial start of summer, the ceremony at Silver Lake Park is intended to bring the focus back to remembrance and sacrifice.
For Baldwin, the parade has long served as a community tradition and a public expression of gratitude. Each year, residents, school groups, veterans’ organizations and local institutions take part in the procession, helping connect younger generations with the history and purpose of the holiday.
Baldwin American Legion Post 246, at 2754 Grand Ave., has served the community for more than 106 years. In a letter to local organizations, businesses, religious and civic groups and residents, the post said it was honored to continue planning the Memorial Day Parade and ceremony for Baldwin and surrounding communities.
The parade route is expected to affect traffic along Grand Avenue, Sunrise Highway and Merrick Road during the morning. Residents and visitors attending the parade or ceremony should plan ahead for possible road closures, detours and delays near the route.
Families are encouraged to arrive early if they want a spot along the parade route or near Silver Lake Park for the remembrance ceremony. Those attending the ceremony should also be prepared for the event to begin after all parade units have reached the park.
The parade is expected to conclude by noon, though timing may vary depending on the number of marching units and the pace of the procession.
For final updates on the parade route, lineup, formations or related announcements, residents can check the American Legion Baldwin Post 246 Facebook page.
