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05/18/2023 07:59 AMAs someone who feels a duty to recognize, support, and honor military veterans, John Fitzgerald is honored to serve as Grand Marshal of Branford’s Memorial Day Parade.
“We have just two days to recognize the veterans; Memorial Day and Veterans Day; but I think we should recognize them every day of the year if we can,” says John. “Especially those who gave so much to the country through selfless sacrifice. To recognize them is a small part of what the community can do.”
A New York native, John and his wife, Cindy, moved to Branford about 10 years ago and have a son, Aidan, 5. John first became familiar with Branford thanks to his parents, Tom and Catherine Fitzgerald, who moved to town nearly 40 years ago. John’s dad, a retired New York City police detective of 20 years and retired police inspector of 25 years with the Connecticut U.S. Attorney’s office, is also a veteran. He served in the U.S. Army.
As one who is passionate about getting involved with issues impacting and affecting veterans, John reached out to join the Branford Veterans Parade Committee. Due to his active and exceptional assistance, John was recently honored to learn that long-serving committee chairman Bill O’Brien nominated John to succeed him as chairman.
“Bill’s been the committee chairman for over 30 years, and he really does a tremendous job not only with this committee but others,” says John. “You talk about what exemplifies a public servant and an active community member, and I think of Bill O’Brien.”
Even in passing the torch, O’Brien has offered to assist John going forward.
“Bill’s done a tremendous job. Those will be big shoes to fill, and I’ll do the best I can,” says John. “Under Bill’s leadership, I’ve learned an awful lot. I’ve learned that there is a group of dedicated individuals that go out of their way to ensure that our veterans, not only from the town but every veteran, gets recognized and remembered.”
John feels many community members may not know of the committee’s efforts to honor veterans not only with parades but with day-of ceremonies at points across town.
“There’s a small group of veterans that goes to every cemetery where there’s a veteran buried to play Taps and lower the flag to half-staff and lay a wreath,” he says.
A ceremony also takes place at the Veterans Memorial on the green, as well as at the Hubbard Bridge (Montowese Street), where a wreath is laid on the Branford River to honor Navy veterans. It all takes place ahead of the day’s morning ceremony on the green, followed by the parade stepping off on Main Street.
“We do all that, starting at 6:45 in the morning, and a lot of times that goes unseen, because there are probably only 15 or 20 people attending,” says John. “But, to me, that just conveys the sentiment and the dedication of the people on the committee.”
John says one of the conversations the committee touches on when planning parades is the goal of respectfully memorializing the military’s fallen.
“We want to recognize those who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice and be respectful,” he says, especially on Memorial Day. “Although we have a parade, the parade’s focus is on the fallen. So it’s a somber experience, while it’s also to celebrate all the achievements of those that served.”
In his Memorial Day address, John will ask the community to remember those who served.
“They made an indelible mark not only for their service but for the community. They represented our country, our hometown, and their families, and they did so with distinction. We should always be respectful of what they’ve done and accomplished.”
The committee invites all military veterans to join the parade.
“Every veteran is welcome to march,” says John. “They can just show up and let us know they want to march, and we’ll gladly put them in with the other veterans. They deserve the opportunity to join in and represent their services and their family. They can march down Main Street with the rest of the parade and get to enjoy all of the festivities and the recognition.”
John’s military service began at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA), where he graduated in 1987 with a bachelor’s in civil engineering. Through the Coast Guard, he went on to Boston University, where he earned his master’s in mass communications.
In service, John logged over eight years of sea time serving on four ships, including commanding his last ship, which took on migrant and drug interdiction in the Caribbean.
“We’re a small service, and a lot of times we get overlooked, but I don’t think that people realize we’ve been in every armed conflict,” says John. “A lot of the landing craft coxswains at D-Day in Europe were Coast Guardsmen because where they trained in the Carolinas, the surf was very similar to the surf and beaches in Normandy, France.”
The Coast Guard is the only military branch that can conduct law enforcement operations on U.S. citizens. In peacetime, the Coast Guard is a part of the Department of Homeland Security.
During his years of service, John also commanded an isolated-duty LORAN Station in the Pacific (Kure Atoll). Additionally, he completed multiple public affairs tours, including serving as Commandant of the Coast Guard’s Press Secretary. John completed his Coast Guard career back at USCGA as Commandant of Cadets.
“After serving 25 years around the country, I retired in 2012 as an O-6/Captain. I currently work at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Haven doing national security and counter-terrorism work,” says John.
No matter where his work takes him or what involvement it requires, John says he will always devote time to help honor veterans. He also welcomes others who would like to assist the Veterans Parade Committee.
“We’re always open and welcoming anyone who wants to contribute, either by helping on the committee or volunteering the day of the ceremonies and parade,” says John.