Rain Relocates Memorial Day Ceremonies

For the second consecutive year the Branford Memorial Day Parade was rained out. The Veterans Parade Committee waited to see the weather forecast the night before and when it was obvious that rain was imminent, the decision was made to cancel the parade and move the ceremonies to Branford High School gymnasium at 10 a.m. Bugler Steve Vacca played Taps at all seven cemeteries and at the high school service.

All was in place for the outdoor ceremony. Then came the rain.

So the ceremony was moved indoors. It began with Lia Whitten singing the National Anthem. State Reps. Sean Scanlon and Lonnie Reed, Sen.Ted Kennedy, Jr., parade marshal Bill Brody, and emcee Vincent Giordano look on.

Before the ceremonies at the high school, a group of veterans and committee members met at 6:30 a.m. for the annual military services at the town’s seven cemeteries, town hall, and the monuments on the Green. Here American Legion Vice Commander Donald Langlois salutes after laying the wreath under the Vietnam plaque at town hall.

The veterans stopped at the flag and monument at the Sliney Elementary School.

Veteran Robert Russell salutes during Taps at the Center Cemetery.

Shell casings fly in the air at the Damascus Cemetery ceremonies.

The concluding ceremony was held at the South Montowese Street Bridge for the Naval Memorial Services and the reading of the Naval prayer. Here Dennis Flanigan and Robert Russell drop the wreath from the bridge.

After services at Tabor Cemetery, committee members Phil Zielinski (left), Robert Russell, Donald Langlois, Mary Grande, Ray Ingraham, Brian Miniter, Dennis Flanigan, Juris Patrylak, and Elliott Hastings line up.

Had there been a parade there would have been floats. The Garden Club had one all ready to go. Instead they attended the indoor ceremonies.

The program started as Master of Ceremonies Captain Vincent Giordano (pictured) called the participants to order. The Invocation was given by Monsignor David Walker of St. Therese Church and was followed by the National Anthem sung by Lia Whitten, accompanied by the Branford High School band.

Fire Chief Tom Mahoney salutes.

Several hundred attended the indoor services.

The highlight of the service was the talk shared by parade marshal Bill Brody, a 96-year-old U.S. World War II Army veteran, and his friend Grant Briggs, American Legion Post 83 Assistant Chaplin. Brody, who said he was afraid his voice wouldn’t last, turned his talk over to Briggs, who joked he was ​“only 89” and was supposed to have a stronger voice. 

First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove made comments about those who have given their lives and those presently in the service.

A series of military selections by the celebrated Stony Creek Fife and Drum Corps followed, then Frank J Kinney III recited the Gettysburg Address as three generations of the Kinney family including his father and grandfather have done for almost 50 years.

For the 18th consecutive year two students from Walsh Intermediate School read winning essays, ​“What Memorial Day Means To Me.” Sixth grader Bryanna Lye was the winner and eighth grader Alec Aceves-Acosta was the runner up.

Musical selections were also provided by the Branford Town Band, St. Mary School Fife and Drum Corps, the Second Company Governor’s Foot Guard, and Totoket Ancient Fife and Drum Corps. The program ended with the Firing Squad and Taps followed by the Benediction by Monsignor Walker. One little boy did his part to make the event special.

The next generation welcomes Bill Brody.

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