Memorial Day will be a little more somber this year, as the annual parade was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic — but Dartmouth will still pay tribute to the men and women who died in service to our country.

The town will hold a short wreath-laying ceremony at 10 a.m. at Elm Street Cemetery on May 25. 

Veteran’s Service Officer Matthew Brouillette said that to avoid potentially spreading the virus, town officials intend for the ceremony to be small. 

But Brouillette added that he understands if people want to pay their respects. If people do come out for the ceremony, he said, they should stay six feet apart.

“Hopefully it will be a safe event,” he noted. “I would hate for there to be some sort of [coronavirus] surge because of this.”

Members of the Veteran’s Advisory Board, VFW, Select Board, and American Legion will be in attendance, according to Brouillette. The ceremony itself will consist of brief remarks, the reading of the names of Dartmouth’s fallen and the laying of a wreath, accompanied by the playing of “Taps.”

He added that the town hopes to hold events for veterans, prisoners of war and those missing in action on September 18 for POW/MIA Recognition Day and on November 11 for Veteran’s Day.