Lincoln's parade steps off at 11 a.m., and will disband at the American Legion Post No. 33 at 40 Chapel St.

By MARCIA GREEN, Valley Breeze Editor

Parade-lovers will line up along Smithfield Avenue in Lincoln on Monday morning, May 26 for a five-division celebration in honor of the nation's veterans. It's just one of several events planned around the region to salute our country's fallen heroes.

LINCOLN

Parade grand marshal is Vietnam veteran Larry Goucher, says Dave Sale in Town Hall, who organizes this annual event.

Marching to the theme of "Treasure Our Freedom," participants may find up to 10,000 residents from around the region turning out, says Sale.

(See complete parade lineup below.)

Sale said he knows the town shares his enthusiasm for this tribute to veterans.

"With everything going on today and so many troops away, the public really wants to show support. It's important the town keep the tradition going and does respect the young men and women. They are all heroes to us. They're out there fighting for freedom, whether you agree or not, they are doing what we asked them to do.

"I haven't heard one military person say we shouldn't be (in Iraq). It almost brings a tear to your eyes. We have to show them we support them. If a little parade in Lincoln is one way, we should be doing it."

Sale added, "This is the largest parade in the region. It's not Manville or Saylesville or Lime Rock, it's the whole town coming together."

Civic organizations have been invited to create floats or form marching contingents to join the celebration. Call Sale at 333-8424 for details.

Sale said float entries will be accepted until 10 a.m. the day of the parade. Anyone interested must be at the parade assembly area at Smithfield and Reservoir avenues.

All floats will be in competition for the William Horlbogen Memorial Float Award, which carries a $100 prize.

The coveted cup was won last year by the Katz Dance Studio of Lincoln, which must surrender it this year, unless it is successful again.

The parade steps off at 11 a.m., and will disband at the American Legion Post No. 33 at 40 Chapel St. where hot dogs, donated by Twin River, will be cooked up and served.

All the favorites will be returning, Sale says, including Shriners, Tony the Dancing Cop, bands, and antique cars.

Current politicians are invited to march and Sale is expecting a full contingent of Town Council and School Committee members along with Town Administrator T. Joseph Almond. On the state level, Attorney General Patrick Lynch has indicated he'll be there.

CUMBERLAND

Cumberland, which provides the region's Fourth of July parade, is more restrained on Memorial Day.

Look for a wreath-laying ceremony and speeches at the Veterans Memorial grove at The Monastery, 1464 Diamond Hill Road, starting at 11 a.m. on Monday.

Richard Schatz, president of the Cumberland Veterans Council, leads the ceremony honoring deceased veterans. Mayor Daniel McKee will speak, as will former Mayor David Iwuc, a Marine veteran.

The Cumberland Police will provide the color guard, and veteran Richard Souza will perform the flag-raising ceremony. Members of the National Guard have been invited to give a gun salute. Flowers will be laid on the war and veterans monuments.

A reception will follow in Cumberland Post 14, American Legion, 690 Broad St., and the public is invited. The Cumberland Veterans Council is made up of members from Cumberland Post 14 and Sherman-Leclerc-Monteiro posts, American Legion; Israel Couture Post, VFW, Almeida-Hines Chapter, DAV, and Francis J. Forloney Amvets Post.

WOONSOCKET

Woonsocket will have its annual Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 26, at 10 a.m. sharp in the Blockbuster Video parking lot on Social Street and Cumberland Street.

The parade will be led by the United Veterans Council of Woonsocket, and will have memorial ceremony stops throughout the city. The procession will head up Social Street to Clinton Street and Worrall Street, where participants will hold a service at the Vietnam and Korean War Monument, according to Veterans Council President Ernest Frappier.

Then it's up the hill to Monument Square for a memorial service and reading of the Gettysburg Address at the Civil War Monument near the Stadium Theatre. The last memorial service will follow shortly after at the mini park near Veterans Memorial Bridge on Main Street, just before City Hall.

Frappier said the 43rd Military Police Brigade as Grand Marshal, the Police and Fire Departments, members of the City Council, the Woonsocket High School band, the Woonsocket Middle School band, elementary school band, the Elks Club, Emblem Club, Circle Laurier, and First Assembly of God in Woonsocket will all participate in the parade, which will end at the main Market Square parking lot.

Participants in the parade should congregate in the Blockbuster parking lot at 9:30 a.m. The parade and ceremonies combined are expected to last about 90 minutes.

NORTH SMITHFIELD

According to town leaders, North Smithfield will not have a Memorial Day parade this year, with Town Administrator Robert Lowe saying that he is "very disappointed."

In the absence of a parade, however, the Le Clair-Kozlik-Logan-Bassett Post VFW Post 6342 at 98 School St. will host a public ceremony honoring veterans on Memorial Day, Monday May 26, according to Lowe. A time for the ceremony has yet to be determined. For more information, call the VFW at 762-9627.

BLACKSTONE

The town of Blackstone will hold its annual Memorial Day Parade on Sunday, May 25, beginning at 2 p.m. at the Kennedy Elementary School on Lincoln Street, followed by Family Fund Day from 3 to 9 p.m.

The annual parade will go from 2 to 3 p.m., after traveling down Lincoln Street, Mendon Street, Main Street and St. Paul Street, and ending at the Town Municipal Center. Blackstone's parade and Family Fund Day typically attract between 3,000 and 4,000 people.

After the parade, the public is invited to participate in a host of activities in the fields behind Town Hall, including rides for children, live music, food, and then the ever-popular fireworks display at 9 p.m. Leading up to the fireworks, the All American Band will be performing, finishing with the 1812 Overture.

AREA TOWNS

Also on Monday, May 26:

At 1 p.m., nearby North Providence is holding its first Memorial Day parade in 30 years. Mayor Charles Lombardi is reviving the tradition but scheduled it in the afternoon to avoid competing with Lincoln's. That parade route will take marchers from North Providence High School on Mineral Spring Avenue, left onto Douglas Avenue and then disband at Notte park for an afternoon of music and food.

Glocester's Memorial Day Parade steps off at 10 a.m. from the Freewill Baptist Church on Route 44, followed by a ceremony at Acoates Hill Cemetery at the Dorr Memorial in Chepachet.

In Smithfield, ceremonies honoring the nation's veterans will take place in Deerfield Park, starting at 10:30 a.m.