Dorchester will honor those who gave their life in service to the country in Memorial Day parade and observances set for next Monday, May 30. The parade, which annually attracts more than 1,000 people, will begin at 10 a.m. at the John P. McKeon AmVets Post No. 146. and proceed to Cedar Grove Cemetery, where a solemn memorial ceremony will take place.

Retired Marine pilot Jack Cunningham to give Memorial Day keynote

“It’s the largest Memorial Day service in the city of Boston,” said Steven Finn, an organizer of the parade and finance officer of the McKeon Post. “It’s a big tradition and a big family day.”

This year, the keynote speaker, who is typically a current or former military officer, will be Jack Cunningham, a longtime Dorchester resident and 39-year Marine veteran who flew helicopters, including Marine One, which transports the president.

The Boston Fireman’s Post No. 94, American Legion, based on Neponset Avenue, will serve as this year’s “host post” in leading the march, accompanied by musical units such as the Greater Boston Firefighters Pipes and Drums and the Boston Police Gaelic Column of Pipes and Drums.

After a flag-raising ceremony at 9:45 a.m. at the McKeon Post, 4 Hilltop St., the marchers, including veterans from St. Mark’s VFW Post No. 1758, Lower Mills Memorial VFW Post No. 8699 and the McKeon Post, will march via Hilltop St., to St. Brendan’s Road, make a left on Milton Street and a right onto Granite Avenue down to Gallivan Boulevard, a left onto Adams Street to Cedar Grove Cemetery.

Francis Cahill, the officer of the day, will supervise the ceremony and invite the posts to place flower wreaths at the statue of Benjamin Stone, who was killed while fighting in the Civil War. After a moment of silence, members of the 28th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry dressed as Union soldiers will discharge Civil War-era rifle volleys .

Since the first march to Cedar Grove in 1868, the Memorial Day Parade has been one of Dorchester’s proudest traditions. Past distinguished guests have included John F. Kennedy in 1958 when he was a US senator, former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis during his last year as governor, and Marine war hero Richard “Butch” Neal.

This year, invited guests include Mayor Marty Walsh, state Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry, and state Rep. Dan Hunt, all Dorchester Democrats, and US Rep. Stephen Lynch, a South Boston Democrat.

Many guests will also attend a ceremony at the Vietnam Veteran Memorial at noon on Morrissey Boulevard near UMass Boston, where there will be an observance as names of veterans who fought in the Vietnam War are read off.

“There’s always a great turnout,” Finn said of the ceremonies that honor men and women who sacrificed and served the nation. “It’s something that the neighborhood really looks forward to.”

Jasmine Wu is an undergraduate student in the Northeastern University School of Journalism.