Sarasota, FL: The City of Sarasota, in conjunction with the Sarasota Patriotic Observance Committee, will host the annual Memorial Day parade at 10 a.m. Monday, May 27, in downtown Sarasota.

The parade will start at Main Street and Osprey Avenue and conclude at Chaplain J.D. Hamel Park, located at Main Street and Gulfstream Avenue, where a ceremony will be held at approximately 11 a.m. The public is encouraged to attend.

This year's keynote speaker will be Michael Tollerton, West Point graduate. Tollerton graduated from West Point in 2011 and spent 6 years in the U.S. Army, earning the rank of Field Artillery Captain. After her military career, Michael's dedication to service led her to join U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan's Military Academy Selection Committee in 2022 and Sarasota Military Academy's Board of Directors in 2023. She currently works with FCCI Insurance Group in Sarasota as a Corporate Risk Control Operator.

The parade will include performances by the Sarasota Military Academy band and participation from local law enforcement agencies, first responders, color guards, veterans’ groups, community organizations and local dignitaries.

Commercial vehicles will not be allowed to participate in the parade. In addition, parade participants are prohibited from throwing objects, including candy, to the crowd.

For more information, contact Dan Kennedy, Sarasota Patriotic Observance Committee Chairman, at 941-812-5406.