Memorial Day ceremony set for Duxbury’s Holy Cross Cemetery

May 25, 2023  |  By Waterbury Roundabout 

Caption: The American Legion's Color Guard at the 2021 Memorial Day ceremony at Hope Cemetery in Waterbury. Photo by Lisa Scagliotti

The Waterbury Historical Society and American Legion Post 59 will host their annual Memorial Day event on Monday, May 29, starting at 11 a.m. at Duxbury’s Holy Cross Cemetery. 

The program will start with the Memorial Day observance. This year’s student speaker is Jeswin Antony, a Harwood Union High School senior from Waterbury and American Legion oratorical contest winner. Music will be by singer Cara Hill.

In addition to honoring U.S. military service members who have died, the program will include the historical society’s annual Ghost Walk featuring historical presentations around a different theme each year. 

This year’s theme will feature stories of four immigrant families whose members are buried in the cemetery: Kadric, Callahan, Grace and Healy. The presentations will include details on what made them uproot their families to come to a new country and learn a new language and culture. University of Vermont adjunct history professor Vince Feeney also will discuss the Irish immigrant experience in Central Vermont. 

The event is family friendly and will be held rain or shine. The program is expected to last about 90 minutes. 

The cemetery is on Vermont Route 100 in Duxbury between Main Street and Crossett Brook Middle School. Direct any questions to Jan Gendreau 802-244-5029.