Foxborough holds Memorial Day observance with readings, wreaths and a Marine veteran's keynote

Foxborough held its Memorial Day observance on May 25, 2026, bringing town officials, veterans and residents together for prayers, readings, and ceremonial wreath-laying. The program included a governor's proclamation, a keynote address by a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and a roll call of local veterans who died in the past year.

The event opened with a welcome from the moderator and an invocation led by Father John of Saint Mary's Church, who asked attendees to remember "those who made the supreme sacrifice" and invoked the nation's history, including the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Lauren Shurtleff of the veterans department led the Pledge of Allegiance, and volunteer JJ Blanchard performed the national anthem.

Mark Craig, introduced by the moderator as the town's director of human services, read a proclamation from Governor Maura T. Healey declaring May 25, 2026, Memorial Day and urging residents to observe the day. Town Manager Paige Duncan urged solemn reflection on the sacrifices of service members, thanked volunteers and veterans advocates, and noted Foxborough's tradition of honoring local veterans.

The keynote speaker, introduced at the podium as a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, reflected on faith, family and the personal cost of military service. He honored three Marines from his unit by nameCorporal Paul C. Halter, Sergeant Merlin German and Staff Sergeant Vincent Belland described how grief and survivor's guilt shaped his early feelings about Memorial Day. "Only by God's grace can I stand here right now and share my perspective," he said, and he urged the community to answer the call to service by supporting one another.

Select Board member Amy Labrash, speaking as a Blue Star mother, described Memorial Day as particularly personal for families with a child in uniform and asked the community to hold Gold Star families close. Ed Butler, commander of American Legion Post 93, read the names of Foxborough veterans who died since last Memorial Day and led the assembly in a moment of remembrance.

The moderator outlined wreath-laying duties: members of the police and fire departments would lay wreaths for conflicts including World War I and World War II; other wreaths would recognize Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War-era conflicts and the Global War on Terror. One wreath was reserved "for the missing and the unknown," the moderator said. Bagpiper Anne O'Donnell performed "Amazing Grace," and Sam Goldman played Taps as attendees stood and veterans saluted.

The ceremony closed with a prayer and a tribute delivered by Pastor Dudley, who recounted the story of Harvey Nesbitt, a Foxborough native lost at sea after serving at Pearl Harbor, and prayed for Gold Star families and those now in uniform. Organizers invited attendees to a light lunch following the program.

The program was strictly ceremonial; no formal votes or policy actions were taken during the observance.