Nahant parade to change starting location

NAHANT – Spectators at Mitchell’s Corner will have to set their chairs out a bit earlier this year if they want to catch the annual Memorial Day Parade.”The route is exactly the same, the timing is exactly the same, just the start is at a different place,” said Nahant Memorial Day Parade Chairman Molly Conlin. “We’ve always turned left down Spring Road, now we’re going to start there.”Conlin said there were a lot of reasons to make the changes, and it’s something she has been mulling for some time, but it was the chance to have the USS Coast Guard Cutter Flyingfish, out of Boston, as part of the ceremony that spurred the committee to action. Conlin said Coast Guard officials let the town know the Flyingfish would tie up at the Wharf at 10:15 a.m. on Memorial Day, which would be high tide and perfect timing for the parade if it started at Spring Road. There is a chance now that the Flyingfish will have to travel to New York and won’t be around for the parade, but Conlin said the decision to change the routine has been made and they plan to see it through.”If it works it will be great, if it doesn’t they’ll have my head,” she said with a laugh.The parade will step off at 9:30 a.m. as usual but from Spring Road instead of Cliff Street. Conlin said it will proceed past Mitchell’s Corner first, on down Emerald Road to Willow Road to the Wharf, where traditional ceremonies will take place.The ceremony includes participants floating a wreath out on the tide while veterans fire off a 21-gun salute.The parade will then reform, march up Wharf Street and take a left onto Nahant Road as usual but instead of stopping at Town Hall for lunch it will continue on to Green Lawn Cemetery, “where they will do the Gettysburg Address and all the usual stuff,” Conlin said.From the cemetery, participants will march down to Veterans Park for concluding ceremonies that will include a flag raising and the playing of “The Star Spangled Banner.” It is expected to hit the cemetery at 11 a.m. and Veterans Park at 11:30 a.m., according to the schedule.”Then marchers can cross the street where lunch will be held at the Life Saving Station,” Conlin said.Traditionally the Memorial Day Committee provides lunch, including chowder and ice cream for parade participants, but this year the group has teamed up with the American Legion Post 215, which meets at the Life Saving Station, for the feast, Conlin said.Conlin said she thinks the change in routine will work out for the best, particularly where parking is concerned. Buses and cars will be able to park in the lowland’s parking lot rather than jockeying for space on Cliff Street, which will make for a safer transition, she added.”The big difference would be for spectators,” she said. “The ceremony at the wharf will be first instead of last … We’ll give it a try this year and see how it goes.”The parade will be held as is tradition on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26.