Join the City of Rockville for its 81st annual Memorial Day Ceremony and Parade Monday, May 26. Founded in 1944 by William (Bill) Wood, the Memorial Day Ceremony and Parade is a long-standing tradition in the City of Rockville.
PARADE PARKING: On Monday, May 26, free parking is available at the Rockville Metro lots, City Hall lots and the jury lot at Route 28 and Monroe Street. Paid parking is available in the garages at The Square at Rockville Town Center off Route 355 or North Washington Street. Cash and credit are accepted and accessible parking is available.
9 a.m. – ROCKVILLE CONCERT BAND AND CHORUS
The city-supported and volunteer Rockville Concert Band and Rockville Chorus will perform a musical tribute to America.
9:30 a.m. – MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY
The ceremony, in the plaza at The Square at Rockville Town Center, includes music by the Rockville Concert Band and the Rockville Chorus; a traditional wreath laying, led by American Legion Post 86; and the presentation of colors by the American Legion Post 86 Color Guard. Rockville will offer sign language interpreters for the ceremony and parade.
10:30 a.m. – 81st MEMORIAL DAY PARADE
After the ceremony, the parade proceeds from Martins Lane and North Washington Street through Rockville Town Center. The parade has something for everyone, with drill and dance teams, multicultural and community groups, military units, and more.
MEMORIAL DAY PARADE GRAND MARSHAL: TIMOTHY BRADY
Tim Brady moved to Rockville with his family in 1955, graduating from St. Mary’s School in 1961. Upon graduating from Richard Montgomery High School in 1965, Brady enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served in the Navy from 1965 to 1969 as a petty officer third class, E-4, as a radarman — now known as operations specialist. Brady deployed to Vietnam in August 1968 aboard the destroyer USS Hugh Purvis. He worked in the Combat Information Center and was responsible for antisubmarine warfare, naval gunfire support, navigation, and other tasks planning and executing the ship’s movements and combat missions. The ship provided gunfire support to the U.S. Marines, U.S. Army, the Army of the Republic of Vietnam and Republic of Korea troops primarily in I Corps near the demilitarized zone. His ship also engaged the enemy, including North Vietnamese shore batteries off the coast of North Vietnam.
Brady received many awards including the Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Vietnam Service Medal with three Campaign Stars, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation-Gallantry, National Defense Service Medal and Vietnam Campaign Medal.
After his military service, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in human resources from Columbia Union College. He retired in 2007 as a senior data analyst from ADP and now plays drums in his jazz trio, Step Three.