Published: 5/22/2020 3:53:14 PM
Modified: 5/22/2020 3:53:01 PM
NORTHAMPTON — Four jets will fly over the VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System in Leeds as part of a tribute to deceased veterans on Monday.
Veterans Agent Steven Connor said the jets, which double the size of previous Memorial Day flyovers, are scheduled to be overhead at 12:15 p.m., beginning in the Route 9 area as they pass over the Bridge Street Cemetery, then go over the Park Street and Spring Grove cemeteries in Florence, before getting to the VA.
All veterans and their families remaining socially distant are encouraged to go into their yards and look to the sky at that time. Other veterans will be at flagpoles around city cemeteries and monuments raising the U.S. flag from half staff at the same time.
Connor said the usually solemn day is made more so this year by the many veterans who have died at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home. He added that the flyover request was approved by the U.S. Department of Defense.