Rain Doesn’t Stop Memorial Day Ceremonies

The best-laid plans sometimes go astray. I had the honor of chairing this year’s Memorial Day Parade planned for yesterday, the Monday of Memorial Day weekend. The Veterans Parade Committee met monthly starting in February to plan this important and popular town activity.

Members of the committee included Dennis Flanigan, Juris Patrylak, Philip Zielinski, Frank Kinney III, Elliott Hastings, Richard Hansen, Dana Strickland, Vincent Giordano, Joseph Caporale, and Walter Zielinski.

Philip Zielinski, Elliott Hasting and Richard Hansen are members of the Firing Squad.

The Committee Gets to Work

Arrangements were made by committee members with the Police and Fire Departments, Public Works, Recreation Department, Finance Department, and school authorities.

The sound was arranged with Dennis Nardella. Father George Couturier of St Mary’s Church agreed to offer the Invocation and Benediction, and the First Selectman James B. Cosgrove said he would be there to give greetings. Assistant Chaplain Grant Briggs had the crowd in stitches with his opening comments.

Veteran Frank Kinney III was set to give his usual remarkable rendition of the Gettysburg Address without looking at any notes. (I could never do that without flubbing it.)

Other veterans, Elliott Hastings and Grant Briggs, agreed to give the GAR Address and a prayer respectively, and Lia Whitten would give us her powerful voice singing the ​“National Anthem” and ​“Battle Hymn of the Republic,” which she had done many times before. Here she is with the town band.

The two winners of the Captain Thomas Yester, ​“What Memorial Day Means to Me” essay contest, Charlie Russo and Rachel Pepe, were chosen to be there and to read their essays.

Musical marching units including Stony Creek Fife and Drum Corps, the Branford High School Band, the Branford Town Band, Totoket Ancient Fife and Drum, and the youngsters from St. Mary’s School and their Fife and Drum Corps (pictured) were all lined up to play and march.

A number of scout troops were set to march along with the Elks, Lions, Knights of Columbus, Branford Garden Club, and Columbus Day Committee.
To top it off, the committee chose 1st Sgt. Paul Hannaway, USMC, as the Parade Marshal and to deliver the talk at the opening ceremonies.

Sgt. Hannaway is a 19-year veteran now stationed with Combat Logistics Battalion 25 on Woodward Avenue in New Haven. He lives in Branford with his wife and three children.

Everything was all set, so as I said before, ​“what could go wrong”?

Well darn that Mother Nature. Beautiful weather leading up to the parade on Monday followed by beautiful weather starting Tuesday, surrounded ugly weather on the holiday. But did that stop the Vet’s from making it a memorable day? Not really.

The vets reassembled for the ceremony which was held at Branford High School. Capt. Vincent Giordano has served as emcee of the service since 1972.

The Branford High School Band played the National Anthem.

Marshal Paul Hannaway delivered his address during the ceremonies.

Hannaway with his wife and children along with his family who came from Rhode Island for the ceremony.

The Stony Creek Fife and Drum Corps played a selection of well-known military favorites.

There was applause all around. Here are (L‑R) State Reps. Sean Scanlon, Lonnie Reed and State Sen. Ted Kennedy, Jr.

And because of the outstanding cooperation we received from School Facilities Director Joe Carbone and Branford High School Supervisor Eric Johnson, the ceremonies that had been planned for months were carried off without a hitch. 

At the Cemeteries

In the early hours of the day, the committee met at the Center Cemetery in the rain at 6:45 a.m. and conducted memorial services, including lowering the flag to half-staff, a rifle salute.

Steven Vacca played taps. Then they visited other cemeteries including St. Mary’s, Mill Plain Road, St. Agnes, Damascus, Stony Creek, and Tabor along with monuments at Sliney School and the Town Green before conducting a Naval Memorial Service at the South Montowese Street Bridge. 

Vets saluting at the bridge included Donald Langlois (L), John Cooke, Ray Ingraham, and Rich Dunn.

Civil War Vet Robert Dorherty is remembered at St Mary’s Cemetery.

1st Sgt. Paul Hannaway salutes in the rain at Damascus Cemetery.

Sgt. Brian Miniter ties a wreath to the flagpole at Sliney School.

We showed Mother Nature she doesn’t always have to cooperate for us to have a special day.

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