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05/25/2017 12:00 AMWondering how your town will observe Memorial Day? Whether you want o get the best spot for your local parade or just hoping to avoid traffic, you’ll find info on local plans below.
The Branford Memorial Day Parade will be held on Monday, May 29 on the Town Green. Opening ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m. and the parade will step off at 10:30 a.m. The program will include an invocation, playing of the National Anthem, and greetings by First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove. Selections will be played by units participating in the parade, and the address will be given by 96 year-old U.S. Army Sergeant Bill Brody, who served in the Army Corps of Engineers during World War II.
The parade will proceed on Main Street to North Harbor Street and return to the Green. In case of inclement weather, the parade will be canceled and ceremonies will be moved to the Branford High School gymnasium at 10 a.m. Check the Town of Branford Department of Parks & Recreation website www.branford-ct.gov/parks for notice of cancellation.
The Chester Memorial Day Parade will step off from St. Joseph’s Parrish Center at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 29. The parade will go to the war memorial and then the center of town flag, before continuing on to the Chester Meetinghouse for refreshments and a town gathering. All veterans are welcome, and vehicles will be available for those who would prefer to ride rather than march. For more information, contact Jerry Lamark at 860-304-0364.
Clinton’s Memorial Day observances begin mda, May 29 with the following ceremonies: Beaverbrook Cemetery at 8:55 a.m., Clinton Police Department at 9:15 a.m., and the Catholic Cemetery at 9:30 a.m. The Memorial Day Parade forms at Town Hall at 9:55 a.m., proceeding to the War Monument at 10 a.m., Indian River Cemetery at 10:10 a.m., Indian River Bridge at 10:30 a.m., Liberty Park at 10:45 a.m. The marchers then join with The Morgan School Band and National Guard for the main parade kickoff at 11 a.m., marching from Post Office Square to the Green for ceremonies, returning to Town Hall at approximately noon.
The Deep River Memorial Day Parade will leave on Monday, May 29 at 9 a.m. from Devitt Field and head toward the Fountain Hill Cemetery for a ceremony before continuing on to the Veterans Memorial Green. All veterans are welcome to show up and march in both parades on the day of the parade; vehicles are available for those who cannot cover the parade route on foot. For more information, call Cheryl Ely DeCarlo at 860-227-7712.
The East Haven Memorial Day observance will feature a procession from the American Legion Post 89 on Thompson Avenue to the East Haven Green. The procession is scheduled to step off on Monday, May 29 at 11:30 a.m. The East Haven High School Band will also provide a program of patriotic music at 11:30 a.m. at the gazebo on the Green. There will be remarks from Mayor Maturo and other dignitaries at noon and the town will recognize East Haven resident Joseph Maturo, Sr. as this year’s honored vet. For more information, contact Frank Gentilesco, Jr. at 203-468-3205 or eh.gentilesco@att.net.
The Essex Memorial Day Parade is on Monday, May 29 at 9 a.m. All veterans are welcome. Participants will assemble at the foot of Main Street in downtown at 8:45 a.m. There will be a short ceremony at the Veteran’s Hall at the conclusion of the parade at approximately 11:15 a.m. If weather precludes a parade, ceremonies will be held at Essex Town Hall at 9:30 a.m. and the Essex Veteran’s Hall at 11 a.m. For more information or if you are a veteran who may require transportation, contact Alex Breen, Jr. at 609-805-7146 or huntnfreak@icloud.com.
The Guilford Memorial Day Parade is on Monday, May 29. All marching units will assemble at Alder Brook Cemetery at 9:30 a.m. After a brief ceremony at 10 a.m., the parade will march down Boston Street to the Guilford Green for the main ceremony. Veterans are encouraged to march, as well as all Boy and Girl Scout units. For more information or to march, call Larry Santamaria at 203-535-6640.
Killingworth’s annual Memorial Day parade starts at Irene Sheldon Park on Route 80 at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 29. The parade will head west to the traffic circle and then north on Route 81 to the Killingworth Congregational Church for a short service.
To participate in the parade, arrive at the east parking lot of Sheldon Park by 8:30 a.m. For more information, call Master of Ceremonies Rick Albrecht at 860-663-2824.
Madison’s Memorial Day Parade is on Monday, May 29. The parade will form at 9 a.m. in the Stop & Shop parking lots. At 10 a.m., the parade will proceed west on Boston Post Road (Route 1) from Samson Rock Drive to the West Cemetery located at Janna’s Lane.
The main ceremony will take place on the Green. All veterans are invited to join. Uniforms are encouraged. Transportation is available for veterans who are unable to walk. For more information, contact Donna Farrell at 203-804-2693 or farrell.donna@gmail.com.
The parade will require road closures. Residents and motorists should expect traffic delays along the parade route between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Affected areas will include Boston Post Road (Route 1) and all intersecting roads between Wall Street/Samson Rock Drive and Janna’s Lane, including: Boston Post Road (Route 1), Wall Street, Samson Rock Drive, Durham Road (Route 79), Meig’s Avenue, Academy Street, Copse Road, Island Avenue, Britton Lane, West Wharf Road, Lantern Hill Road, Rock Ledge Drive, and Janna’s Lane.
Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes during the parade. Residents/visitors requiring access to Middle Beach Road, the Madison Beach Hotel, or the Madison Country Club should use East Wharf Road to access those areas during the parade.
The North Branford Memorial Day Parade will be held on Monday, May 29 at 10 a.m. in the North Branford section of town. The parade will honor the memory of SFC James Creamer Jr., a Vietnam Veteran reported MIA in 1968.The Post #8294 Veterans of Foreign Wars extends an invitation to everyone who wishes to march on that day. Groups will form on Commerce Drive, located off of Route 80, at 9 a.m. The parade line will start at 9:30 a.m. and step off at 10 a.m. sharp.
The parade line will proceed east onto Route 80 toward the North Branford Congregational Church. All are invited to Company 1 Firehouse after the ceremony for refreshments, sponsored by Company 1 and the VFW Post #8294.
American Legion Post 76 in North Haven is sponsoring the 71st annual Memorial Day Parade on Saturday, May 27, at 10:30 a.m. Residents are encouraged to find seating along the route, which starts at the High School, goes east on Bailey Road, then north on Maple Avenue, continues on Church Street, and ends at the corner of Church and St. John streets. The grandstand will be located at the Green, across from Town Hall.
This year’s parade grand marshal is Nick Mastroianni. Parade participants include North Haven youth sports teams, the North Haven Police and Fire departments, the Governor’s Horse Guard, the Governor’s Foot Guard, Naval Submarine Base New London’s “Silver Dolphins,” the North Haven High School marching band, and the Connecticut Hurricanes Drum and Bugle Corps.
Following the parade, there will be a ceremony on the Green, featuring the North Haven High School band, remarks by North Haven officials, and a presentation about Memorial Day. The parade will be broadcast live on NHTV. In the event of inclement weather, the parade will be held on Saturday, June 3. For questions, contact Charlie Morrissey at 203 239-1235.
Old Saybrook holds its annual Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 29. A waterside, full naval ritual with a rifle salute is at 9 a.m. and is followed by a parade at 10 a.m. to the Veterans Memorial Monuments on the Town Green on Main Street. All veterans, especially WWII and Korea vets, are invited to attend. Rides in the parade route are available. For more information or to participate, contact Max Sabrin at 860-395-5550 or osfd@aol.com.
Stony Creek will observe Memorial Day on Monday, May 29. The parade forms at the Veterans’ Memorial Triangle and begins at 8 a.m. with laying of wreaths at the monuments of all veterans from Stony Creek who have served in the various wars, followed by the flag raising ceremony, a selection by the Stony Creek Drum Corps, gun salute, and “Taps.” The parade steps off immediately following and proceeds to the Stony Creek Cemetery.
There will be a brief service of remembrance at the cemetery with roll call of all 111 veterans from Stony Creek who are buried there. Following the service, the parade returns to the Veterans’ Memorial Triangle to disband and head to the Branford parade.
The Stony Creek Memorial Day parade and service is never canceled due to rain. Veterans needing transportation to and from the cemetery can call Unk DaRos at 203-488-7029. For more information, call 203-488-4343.
Valley Regional High School, 256 Kelsey Hill Road, Deep River, hosts a Memorial Day ceremony on Friday, May 26 at 8:45 a.m. in front of the World War II memorial. For more information, call Adrienne Buckley at 860-526-5328, ext. 2552.
The Westbrook Memorial Day Parade is on Monday, May 29 at 10 a.m. The parade begins and ends in the parking lot behind the former town hall, known as the Riggio Building. The parade will be held rain or shine. For more information, call 860-399-3040, ext. 1111.
The Winthrop Memorial Day observances are on Sunday, May 28 starting at 1 p.m. at the Winthrop Baptist Church with a memorial service, after which the parade will march to the Winthrop Cemetery. After the ceremony at Winthrop Cemetery, the parade will march back to the Winthrop Baptist Church. The parade will then head to Sobieski Hall for a ceremony and refreshments.