RICHMOND — The Richmond Community Historical Society will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Crew House Museum on Main Street to finalize plans for the community’s annual Memorial Day parade.

In honor of the nation’s semiquincentennial, the historical society selected “250 Years of American Freedom” as the theme of the parade, which will be held May 25, beginning at 11 a.m.

The historical society is the longtime sponsor and organizer of the parade which will form at the former Richmond Elementary School and Hardy Field parking lot area with participants asked to be there by 10:30 a.m. to line up.

Todd Wood of Richmond, a direct descendant of an original Richmond settler, Benjamin W. Ladd, will serve as the parade grand marshal.

The parade will proceed through town, ending at Richmond Union Cemetery with a brief ceremony. Organizations interested to participate in the parade as a marching unit or as part of a float can contact Wendy Byers, parade coordinator, at (740) 765-2042.

The parade will be preceded by the traditional Memorial Day breakfast in the fellowship hall of Richmond Methodist Church, 112 S. Sugar St., from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Organized by Scouting America Troop 20 and 22, the breakfast will feature scrambled eggs, sausage, pancakes and beverages. Cost is by donation with proceeds benefiting troop projects and needs.

Members of the Richmond American Legion Post 740, Honored Seven, will lead the Memorial Day parade. J.O. Henry serves as post commander and will preside at the cemetery service as master of ceremonies.

Navy veteran Frank Rogers Jr. will be the keynote speaker. He is a 2007 graduate of Edison High School. He served in Naval Intelligence and spent time in Afghanistan and Bahrain. He and his wife, Annie, own the recently opened Richmond Coffeeshop, which will be open Memorial Day from 6 a.m. to noon to welcome visitors.

Richmond native Jay Hout, a resident of Las Cruces, N.M., will deliver the Gettysburg Address.

The historical society oversees the Crew House museum, which features a variety of Richmond memorabilia. The second floor is dedicated to Jefferson Union High School memorabilia. The museum will be open before the parade from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

John Jones serves as the historical society’s president. Other officers include Marge Andres, vice president; Sandy Judy, secretary; and Wendy Byers, treasurer.