MARION — A Marion resident and veteran has been named the featured speaker of the town’s Memorial Day procession and remembrances.

The ceremony will take place Monday, May 27 beginning at 9 a.m. in front of the Marion Music Hall. In the event of rain, the ceremony will be relocated to the multipurpose room of Sippican Elementary School.

The procession and remembrances will follow the same route as in past years, marching up Front Street to the Veterans’ Memorial at Old Landing. Upon arrival at the Veterans’ Memorial, the town will pay tribute to the military’s “honored dead” who “gave the last full measure of devotion.”

The procession and remembrances will feature the Sippican School Marching Band as well as the Portuguese American Band. The ceremony will conclude with Marion Select Board members laying a wreath at the Veterans’ Memorial. Technical Sergeant Mandy Givens of the Massachusetts Air National Guard will be the master of ceremonies. 

The event’s featured speaker is Charles A. Brown. A Marion resident since the early 1990s, Brown enlisted in the United States Army in January 1966 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant upon the completion of Officer Candidate School.

Brown was transferred to Vietnam in June 1966, assigned to the First Cavalry Division Airmobile, “with 430 helicopters that were their rides into battle,” a press release from the town of Marion said. 

Brown was combat wounded in December 1966 and in January 1967.

In January 1968, Brown’s division was flown just north of Hue and defended against North Vietnam’s Tet Offensive.

After nine months in the field, Brown was transferred to the battalion headquarters. The battalion was attacked and partially overrun on May 5, 1968. 

Brown received a third Purple Heart and the Silver Star for actions leading his troops in defending the headquarters.

In years since, Brown has “spent an extensive amount of time supporting his combat brothers, their families, and the families of our fallen,” the press release said.

After military service, Brown has a 25-year career in technology and nine years dealing in Asian antiques. He also served nine years as an emergency medical technician.

Marion residents can attend the remembrances as well as stand along the parade route on Front Street between Cottage Street and Ryder Lane.