ROCHESTER — Music could be heard throughout the streets of Rochester on Sunday, May 26 for the town’s annual Memorial Day parade.

The Rochester Memorial School band kicked off the ceremony with a rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner outside of town hall before the Rochester Select Board, along with State Representative Bill Straus, led the parade to Daggett Square and back.

Rochester Boy Scouts held flags during the parade as the band continued to play music.

A list of names of Rochester residents who served in the United States military in numerous wars was read aloud by the Select Board.

Straus then took the microphone and said the Memorial Day ceremony in Rochester each year is a “powerful” event.

“The [soldiers’] names over a couple hundred years are offered to you to think about and reflect,” said Straus. “Memorials like this one honor those who gave such an extreme sacrifice, gave up everything to fight for their country.”

In front of Rochester’s town hall, a plaque listing the names of Rochester’s Civil War veterans is displayed on a large rock.

“In about a month we will celebrate the Fourth of July,” said Straus. “The difference between the Fourth of July and Memorial Day is on July 4th we celebrate, it is more festive. Today we observe, it is more somber and restrained — as it should be.”