Rockville Band and Chorus 9 a.m. The City of Rockville supported all-volunteer band, directed by John Saint Amour, and the Rockville Community Chorus will perform a musical tribute to America before and during the Memorial Day Ceremony.
Ceremony 9:30 a.m. The ceremony in the plaza at Rockville Town Square includes music by the Rockville Concert Band and the Rockville Chorus, the traditional wreath laying led by American Legion Post 86, and a 21-gun salute and presentation of colors by American Legion Post 86 Color Guard.
Participants include American Legion Auxiliary Unit 86; American Legion Post 171; Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 12; Fleet Reserve Association, Triangle Branch 182; Washington-Rockville Elks, Lodge 15; Price Hall Shriners; Anwar Temple 219; Vietnam Veterans Association; and Rockville Sister City Corporation.
68th Memorial Day Parade 10:30 a.m. Following the ceremony, the 68th Memorial Day Parade steps off from Martins Lane and North Washington Street, turning left on Beall Avenue, turning down Maryland Avenue through Rockville Town Center and then making a left onto East Montgomery Avenue. The parade has something for everyone with drill teams, marching bands, community groups, military units and more! View the parade route. Parade Winners.
Grand Marshal Chris Day Chris Day was born in Rockville, Maryland, and grew up in Montgomery County. He is a 2004 graduate of Magruder High School. Day had signed up for the Army prior to his graduation, and went to basic training shortly after completing high school. After basic training, Day was stationed at Ft. Lewis in Washington State. As a carpentry and masonry specialist, Day was part of the Army Corps of Engineers. He was deployed to Afghanistan twice, in 2005 for 12 months, and 2007 for 15 months. Day achieved the rank of Sgt. E5.
In May 2008, Day was discharged from the Army. After driving from Washington State back to Maryland, Day enrolled at the University of Maryland as a Physical Education major. He will graduate this spring, and hopes to become a teacher in Montgomery County.
Parade Emcee ABC7/WJLA-TV and News Channel 8's Brian van de Graaff Meteorologist Brian van de Graaff has been with the ABC7/WJLA-TV and News Channel 8 team for more than a decade. He is currently the main weathercaster on weekday mornings for WJLA's sister station NewsChannel 8. He also provides daily forecasts for Washington's No. 1 rated morning drive program on WTOP-FM. Van de Graaff has earned the American Meteorological Society's prestigious Seal of Approval. Prior to his current role, he forecasted the weather for Good Morning Washington and ABC 7 News at Noon for 7 years.
Van de Graaff was born in Arlington, but grew up in the rural Virginia communities of Culpeper and Madison. As a graduate of George Mason University, he jumped into the business, shadowing his mentor, Doug Hill. Van de Graaff, his wife Kristen and their son live in Fairfax, Va.
Grand Marshal