Rochester shares virtual ceremony honoring those who paid ultimate price

ROCHESTER - City Manager Blaine Cox and Mayor Caroline McCarley are pleased to share a special Tri-City sponsored Memorial Day virtual ceremony to commemorate the upcoming holiday.

To view the video, click here.

The virtual ceremony honored the military personnel lost while serving in the United States Armed Forces. The ceremony was conducted by Rochester, Dover and Somersworth to celebrate the upcoming Memorial Day holiday in the wake of COVID-19 event and parade cancellations.

Each year the City of Rochester's Veterans Council conducts a Memorial Day Parade in downtown Rochester to honor their fallen service members.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Rochester decided not to hold any public events to commemorate Memorial Day this year. The cancellation of the event was a preventive measure to protect the health of the community and veterans due to Governor Chris Sununu's advisory that those who are older and at high risk of contracting COVID-19 should stay at home.

"We all regret that we can't be together on Memorial Day, but we honor our fallen service members and ask that we pause to remember all of those who gave their all for our freedom," said Mayor McCarley.

The Tri-City Memorial Day video was recorded and edited by the City of Dover. The video was shot at the Dover Veterans Park over the past week.

In attendance at the ceremony were Rochester Mayor McCarley, Dover Mayor Robert Carrier and Somersworth Mayor Dana Hilliard, as well as representatives from area veteran organizations. The Rev. Andrew Nelson of St. Ignatius and St. Mary parishes in Somersworth provided the ceremony's invocation and benediction.

Rochester Government Cable (Atlantic Broadband Cable TV channel 26) will be broadcasting the event over the weekend and on Monday, May 25 at 9:30 a.m. It will also be available to view on the city's Video on Demand site.

Additionally, the Rochester Government Channel will be running some of the archived shows done in connection with the Rochester Veterans Council.