West Stockbridge P&R lays plans for Memorial Day as VFW’s annual host this year

The West Stockbridge Parks & Recreation Committee on Feb. 2 approved minutes from its prior meeting and moved into planning for Memorial Day after learning the local Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter will rotate its single annual parade and ceremony to West Stockbridge for 2026. The minutes record that the committee will try to make this year “extra special for the vets and everyone involved.”

The minutes state the VFW requested returning to the traditional format — parade first, followed by a ceremony at Town Hall — with an ideal parade start time of 10 a.m. Cait Graham, a member of the Parks & Recreation Committee, said she is trying to secure the MMRHS choir to sing the national anthem; the minutes list the Southern Berkshire Cheerleaders Association as committed to participating.

Committee members assigned logistical follow-ups: Joseph P. Roy, listed in the minutes as the Parks & Recreation clerk, will look into scheduling a soccer game after the ceremony and will contact the school band director and an entity listed in the minutes as “Fire Pit” about participating. Cait Graham said she will put a volunteer request in the Local Yokel for residents who can drive vintage cars in the parade so veterans who need rides can be accommodated.

The minutes note the local chapter of the American Legion will coordinate placing flags in town graveyards, timing to be determined. Committee members also discussed distributing small boxes of flags to local merchants ahead of Memorial Day so merchants can hand them out to residents; the minutes record unanimous support for that idea.

The committee scheduled its next meeting for March 2, 2026, at 5 p.m. and adjourned at 6 p.m.