Branford’s World War II Vets To Serve as Parade Marshals

For the first time in the history of the Branford Memorial Day parade there will be more than one parade marshal leading the marchers on Monday, May 28.

Six Branford veterans who served in World War II have agreed to lead the parade this year and will be introduced at the ceremonies on the Green at 10 a.m. prior to the parade stepping off at 10:30 a.m. They will then be driven in convertibles along the parade route to be recognized for their service.

“We’re really excited that these Branford veterans have agreed to lead this year’s parade,” said Bill O’Brien, chairman of the Veterans Parade Committee and a reporter and photographer for the Branford Eagle. ​“One of our members, Phil Zielinski, thought of the idea at our meeting back in February. We thought it was a terrific idea and set out to try and find those that served back then.”

The committee checked the ranks of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars and spoke to a number of veterans who served back then to see if they would participate or knew any of any others that might like to. Several who were contacted appreciated the invitation, but weren’t up to it.

“We had the names of about 15 vets but for different reasons many of them just couldn’t do it,” O’Brien said. ​“We were disappointed but we understand because of age or some health issues they couldn’t commit.”

Branford’s World War II Parade Marshals

Ira Lewis (pictured), 97, is a Branford resident having moved here from New York City. His interest in photography led him to joining the Army, so he could take advantage of their offer to train him. He joined in 1940 when the war in Europe seemed distant. He was assigned to the Army War College where he learned the technical aspects of photography that eventually took him to an assignment in the Philippines where he captured the bloody aftermath of the battle of Manila in February 1945. He is a recipient of the Bronze Star.

Grant Briggs, 91, graduated from Branford High School in 1946 and joined the Army, serving in Germany at the end of the war. He was a member of the U.S. Army First Division and attained the rank of sergeant before his discharge in 1948. He has been a member of the American Legion Post 83 for 22 years serving as chaplin for the Post for the past 21 years.

The oldest member of the group is Bill Brody (pictured), 98, who signed up to serve on Feb. 2, 1943, and was assigned to the Air Force 86th Squadron. Shortly after he was shipped out to Great Britain and spent the next two-and-a-half years serving several units in England, France and Germany. He attained the rank of sergeant and was discharged on Dec. 14, 1945. He proudly displays his numerous decorations when he wears his uniform. In 2017, he was the Marshal of the Branford Memorial Day Parade.

Donald Robinson (pictured), 91, is a veteran of both World War II and the Korean War. His service in the second of the two wars led to honors for his bravery – two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. The Bronze Stars were for returning to a bunker to bring out several Army buddies who were seriously wounded by a mortar shell, and the second was for taking out a machine gun nest with a pipe bomb. He received the Purple Heart when he was hit by shrapnel while heading back over the 38th parallel tearing open his stomach and requiring 136 stitches.

Vincent ​“Vinnie” Thomas (pictured), 92, joined the U.S. Navy just short of his 17th birthday in 1943. He participated in the battle of Iwo Jima, considered one of the fiercest battles in World War II. The five-week struggle to win the island from the Japanese in 1945 resulted in 19,000 Americans wounded with another over 6,800 falling to the enemy. More than 100 of those killed in action were from Connecticut.

Back in 1995, Vinnie contributed much to help establish the nation’s only Iwo Jima Memorial Monument on the campus at Central Connecticut State University. Beginning in 2004, he served as editor and publisher of the ​“Journal of the Iwo Jima Survivors,” recollections of stories by men who fought there.

Stanley Petela (pictured), 95, is a graduate of Branford High School Class of 1941, where he played baseball and basketball, earning All State honors. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1942 and became a crew leader on fighter planes with service in England, France and Germany in during the war. He achieved the rank of sergeant and was awarded the Bronze Star for Meritorious Service.

Here is vet Donald Robinson with Elliott Hastings (L) the Commander of the VFW Post 12106 in Branford and Richard Dunn Commander of American Legion Post 83 also here in Branford.

Parade Information

On Memorial Day morning the members of the Veterans Parade Committee will visit the seven town cemeteries beginning at 6:45 a.m. where they will conduct ceremonies, which include playing taps, laying a wreath, and having a rifle salute. There will also be Naval Memorial Services at 9:15 a.m. at the South Montowese Street Bridge.

Ceremonies on the Town Green will begin at 10 a.m. and include the National Anthem, introduction of the World War II veterans, musical selections, reading of student essays, a prayer, Taps, and Firing Squad. 

The parade will step off at 10:30 a.m. and will include members of the Post 83 American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12106, World War II veterans and the Stony Creek Fife and Drum Corps. They will be followed by elected officials, a number of Boy Scout and Girl Scout units, St. Mary’s School Fife and Drum Corps, Elks Lodge 1939, a float by the Branford Garden Club, the Branford Lions Club, Knights of Columbus, the Columbus Day Committee of Greater New Haven, Totoket Ancient Fife and Drum Corps, vintage cars, and Branford Fire Companies.

The Branford Town Band will provide music on the Green while the parade is in progress.

The parade will head west on Main Street to North Harbor Street and return to the Green ending on Montowese Street. In case of rain and the parade is cancelled, the ceremonies will be moved to the Branford High School Gymnasium and begin at 10 a.m. Notice of the cancellation will be posted on the Town of Branford Recreation Department’s website. 

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