Martin County canceled the 2026 Memorial Day parade in Stuart, and instead a solemn march will be held.
Complaints by Gold Star families — families who have lost a loved one in the line of duty — led to the change. Gold Star families said the parade was too celebratory for a day meant to remember their fallen family members.
Here are five things to know about the cancellation:
● A parade has been held in Martin County for more than 20 years.
● The cancellation leaves the Treasure Coast without a Memorial Day parade.
● Veterans will instead march May 25 (Memorial Day) along Southeast Ocean Boulevard to Memorial Park in Stuart.
● The county will from now on observe Memorial Day in a “more respectful and contemplative manner,” said Michael Drost, county veteran services manager, in a text to Scott Guntz, chair of the Martin County Veterans Council, and others.
● Following the march, a ceremony will be held at Memorial Park to honor fallen service members.
Keith Burbank is a watchdog reporter for TCPalm, usually covering Martin County. He can be reached at keith.burbank@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida county cancels Memorial Day parade; says it’s too celebratory
Reporting by Keith Burbank, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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