It was a time for celebration and remembrance the morning of Monday, May 27 as the Dartmouth community gathered to honor fallen soldiers at the 2024 Memorial Day Parade.

Beginning at the town landing on Gulf Road, military officers, veterans, first responders, town officials and community organizations made their way down across the Padanaram Bridge where the VFW Ladies Auxiliary placed a ceremonial wreath.

The Dartmouth Community Band along with bands from the high school and middle school played songs and youth cheerleaders cheered and handed out candy as the parade made its way to the Elm Street Cemetery for a brief ceremony. The parade concluded with a final speech at the World War I memorial on Russells Mills Road.

Veterans Advisory Board Chair Chris Periera gave remarks before reading off the names of Dartmouth’s fallen.

“The honored fallen took an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and we must be a free and worthy people to carry on and honor their legacy,” Periera said.

He highlighted what an honor it was for him to walk alongside Grand Marshall Gerry Enos in the parade. Enos' son, Peter Enos, died while serving in Iraq in 2004.

Periera said, “I always think of the incredible grace, toughness [and] determination that he displays everyday giving his son to us so we may be free.”

Along the parade route, Nina Gouveia, 10, Vivian Theobald, 10, Vera Gouveia, 7, and Titi Gouveia, 5, held a stand selling brownies, lemonade and cold brew coffee to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project, which provides resources to veterans and their families.

Theobald said she and the Gouveia family had been wanting to hold a stand for a while to raise money for a good cause. They’ve seen success so far having raised $50 a few weeks ago and possibly another $50 at the parade.

Theobald said they wanted to do this in order “to help our world and make sure that [veterans are] safe.”

Colby Philip, 9, Amelie Philip, 8, Augusta Rheaume, 6, and Jovette Rheaume, 9, were all along the parade route dressed up in red, white and blue and waving flags.

Jovette said when she thinks of Memorial Day she thinks of Dartmouth’s annual parade, adding how it's a day “about celebrating soldiers who died.”

Patricia Andrade was joined on the parade route by her friend Carlene Broderick, who came from New York for the weekend, as well as Koreen Santos.

Broderick said she thought the parade was “beautiful” and she appreciated the fact that it was a “community driven” effort.

Santos said, “It’s a wonderful community and it’s a great time to get together and remember those who made it so we can all be here.”

Andrade said because of her father, who was a veteran, she understands “what it really meant to be in the military and so Memorial Day has always been a special day for me.”

She emphasized how important it is to honor those who died serving the country.

In regard to the parade, Andrade said, “It makes you feel like you’re part of the town and the town has a lot of pride in itself. It’s just beautiful.”