Local News in Virginia
Oldest In The Nation – Portsmouth’s 131th Memorial Day Parade
By Randy Singleton
Community Affairs Correspondent
New Journal and Guide
PORTSMOUTH
The City of Portsmouth held its 131th annual Memorial Day Parade on Monday (May 25), featuring local high school and community bands, veterans groups, Boy Scout troops, high school ROTC squadrons, antique cars and military vehicles, church youth groups, local pageant queens, and city officials. Portsmouth’s parade is the nation’s oldest annual parade—the first one started in 1884—and it honors the service and sacrifice of the men and women of America’s armed forces and celebrates the city’s military heritage.
Thousands of Portsmouth residents lined the parade route to enjoy the pageantry of the event which started on High Street at I.C. Norcom High School and ended on Crawford and Columbia Streets in downtown Portsmouth.