Holiday Hours: Memorial Day

Photo Courtesy of U.S. Army

Arlington National Cemetery is the nation's first federal military cemetery. A ceremony is held each Memorial Day at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Memorial Day is being celebrated Monday, May 25. It is a federal holiday observing the sacrifices of the nation's servicemen and -women. It started as a day to decorate the graves of fallen Civil War soldiers, particularly in the South, and many states adopted the day as Decoration Day to commemorate all U.S. soldiers after World War I.

Memorial Day was established as a federal holiday in 1971 by Congress. It falls on the last Monday in May.

Closed:
Federal, state and local offices; no mail delivery.
Banks
Public colleges and schools, most private schools
Public libraries
Most offices and businesses

Memorial Day parades and observances can be found here. 

The state Department of Transportation is urging the public to plan ahead if traveling Memorial Day Weekend, and to expect an increased volume of travelers this year.

All scheduled road work around the Memorial Day Weekend is postponed. 

The Cape Flyer begins service on Friday, May 22, through Sept. 7; veterans, active-duty personnel and guests can ride free on Sunday, May 24, to Hyannis for the annual Troops in the Spotlight event. Find the full schedule here.

Sign up at the 511 Traveler Information Service to receive personalized travel information alerts via email, text or telephone. MassDOT as always reminds drivers to avoid using cell phones while driving. Call into the 511 service before departing. Download Waze, the real-time traffic navigation app that provides motorists with real-time traffic conditions across Massachusetts.

Friday is projected to be the heaviest travel day.

Cheshire Hires Adams Officer as New Police Chief

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
06:00PM / Friday, August 21, 2026

Matthew Wright shakes hands with board members and Town Administrator Jennifer Morse on Friday after being offered the post. 

CHESHIRE, Mass. — Adams Police Sgt. Matthew Wright has been tapped as Cheshire's next police chief. 

 

The four present board members unanimously voted to hire him after an interview on Friday afternoon held during a special Selectmen's meeting. 

 

Wright was the only finalist for a police chief search that lasted several months. The only public who attended, other than iBerkshires, was interim Police Chief Timothy Garner and Wright's wife. 

 

The board will meet in executive session with Wright for contract negotiations then set an open session to establish a start date. 

 

Board member Scott McWhirt recused himself from the interview as he had worked with Wright in the Adams Police Department prior to his retirement in 2016.

 

Wright highlighted his deep roots in Cheshire, where he was born and raised, being a Hoosac Valley High School graduate and earning an associate degree in criminal justice from Berkshire Community College and later a bachelor's from Westfield State University.

 

Now, he is raising his own family in town, following in his father's footsteps by giving back to the community by being a volunteer coach and participates in local festivities.