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.