Guest of Honor Colonel J.D. Williams Reflects on Service and Sacrifice Ahead of Watertown’s Memorial Day Parade

WATERTOWN – As Watertown prepares for its 2025 Memorial Day Parade, the city will be joined by a distinguished guest of honor: Colonel J.D. Williams, a retired Marine Corps intelligence officer and recent Watertown resident. In an in-depth interview with Patrick George, the city’s Veterans Services Officer, Williams shared reflections on his 30-year military career, the meaning of Memorial Day, and his continued work honoring veterans.

Williams served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1978 to 2004, participating in numerous overseas operations including Desert Storm, El Dorado Canyon, and deployments in Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Following his retirement, he served in high-level roles across the U.S. intelligence community before becoming a senior defense researcher at the RAND Corporation.

Speaking with George, Williams described how he was drawn to military service during the post-Vietnam era through an ROTC scholarship, influenced by his family’s values of public service. Though he lacked a military lineage, his deep interest in history and a desire to explore the world helped shape his decision.

Now living in Watertown, Williams volunteers at the USS Salem, a museum ship in Quincy, where he works to preserve naval history and educate the next generation about military service. He described his past experiences commemorating Memorial Day in Falls Church, Virginia, and said he’s impressed by Watertown’s commitment to honoring its veterans.

Patrick George outlined several events taking place throughout Memorial Day weekend, including wreath placements, school assemblies, a rolling procession of local cemeteries, and the city’s annual parade, which will begin at noon on Monday, May 26 at City Hall and conclude at Victory Field.

Colonel J.D. Williams will appear as the guest of honor at the parade and closing ceremony. The parade will be broadcast live by Watertown Cable Access Television.

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