MIDDLEBORO — A National Guard Humvee trundled behind the Nichols Middle School marching band playing “When the Saints Go Marching In” as the Memorial Day parade made its way through downtown Middleboro on May 26.

The National Guard and the middle school marching band were accompanied by an assortment of classic cars, veterans, the Select Board, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, the Middleboro Elks, police and several pageant girls. 

After passing Sacred Heart Church and Coffee Milano Cafe, the procession wound its way in a circle back to Town Hall for the official ceremony.

Veterans’ Service Officer Stephen Adelman opened the ceremony with Air Force veteran Mary Standish, who rang eight bells in honor of fallen soldiers and those who have served.

Adelman then handed the ceremony off to Troop 64 Boy Scout Sebastion Glaspey who read a proclamation from Gov. Maura Healey.

“It is appropriate that all Massachusetts residents remember the bravery of those who gave their lives so that their sacrifices serve as a reminder of the cost of our freedom,” Glaspey read.

Paul Provencher, head of the Middleboro Veterans Memorial Park Trust, recalled the hard work and dedication that went into creating the Middleboro Memorial Park in front of Town Hall and recognized the many individuals who contributed to its creation.

Musical breaks periodically interrupted the ceremony as Miss Collegiate Area Violet Joy Hansen sang the national anthem, Miss South Shore Meg Sylvia sang “God Bless the USA” and Miss Southeastern Massachusetts Teen Marianna MacCullum sang “God Bless America.”

Wearing an 18th-century minister's uniform, Pastor Stephen Del Signore of St. Andrew’s Church summed up the feeling of the day with a brief invocation.

“For 250 years we have lived through days of challenge, hours of testing our loyalty to our national heritage and our devotion to the high ideals for which this country was founded and many have lived and died to preserve,” Del Signore said. “Heavenly Father, we are grateful for life, for liberty and for the freedom to pursue happiness.”