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06/20/2017 12:00 AMThe 2017 Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) and Town of East Haven Fireworks and Beach Party returns to the East Haven town beach on Saturday, June 24.
The day’s events kick off at noon with a performance by Mike & The Muffintops until 2 p.m. Signature Band performs from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., followed by Primetime from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The evening’s headliner, Elements-Tribute to Earth Wind & Fire, performs from 7:15 to 8:45 p.m., breaking in time for Rob and Karen’s Salute to American Heroes at 9:15 p.m. and the start of fireworks at approximately 9:20 p.m.
In addition to music and fireworks, the town and VVA Chapter 484 have arranged food vendors, who will offer hot dogs, hamburgers, sausage & steak sandwiches, chicken, fries, fried dough, clams on the half shell, nachos, candy apples, cotton candy, popcorn, Italian ice, drinks, funnel cakes, desserts, pretzels, fruit smoothies, slush factory, gelato, meatballs, chocolate bananas, and more. The Sandpiper and Beach Head will also welcome guests.
This year’s 17th annual Fireworks Beach Party celebration will be dedicated to an original member of the Fireworks Committee, Vietnam veteran Charlie Cottle. Cottle, a lifelong member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 484, served on the Fireworks Committee until his death on Thanksgiving 2016. Cottle joined the Marine Corps in 1963, where he served in Vietnam until his discharge in 1969. Cottle, a helicopter electrician for Sikorsky Aircraft, was also an avid Harley Davidson rider and his motorcycle greeted the thousands of attendees each year at the entrance to the beach area on Fireworks night. Cottle was a passionate advocate of the recognition of POWs and MIAs and for the proper treatment, support, and respect that he felt all returning veterans deserved.