Parades, a concert and flowers tossed into town harbors by school children — on the Vineyard, Memorial Day weekend is marked by many longstanding traditions featuring the young and old alike.

Friday in the march to the sea parade, students from the Tisbury and Edgartown schools will scatter flowers in Island waters commemorating those who died in the nation’s service. The parade begins at 12:30 p.m.at the Tisbury School and 1 p.m. at the Edgartown School. The Tisbury route travels to Owen Park by Spring street and Main street. The Edgartown parade finishes at Memorial Wharf, where eighth graders recite the Gettysburg Address.

On Saturday, May 26, a special Salute to the Troops Concert will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Field Club in Katama. Donations will benefit Martha’s Vineyard Veterans. Information appears in the calendar.

On Monday the Memorial Day parade steps off at 9:30 a.m. at the American Legion parking lot in Vineyard Haven. The guest speaker Richard Christopher is the former state commander for the Massachusetts Disabled American Veterans and served as a Marine in Viet Nam. Natalie Wood will sing the national anthem. The parade ends at the Oak Grove Cemetery where more than 400 flags will line the avenue of flags.

The Vineyard Gazette office will be closed Monday in observance of the national holiday; the office reopens on Tuesday morning.