Photos by Bill O’Brien
It was a little cool but an otherwise perfect day with lots of sun and hardly any wind that helped bring out the largest Veterans Day Parade crowd in over 10 years.
Capt. Vincent Giordano served as Master of Ceremonies for the pre-parade program. The ceremonies began with an Invocation and the singing of the National Anthem followed by Cosgrove’s comments. Selections were played by all six participating fife and drum corps and bands.
Giordano stands along with VFW Commander Elliott Hasting and American Legion Commander Donald Langlois, seated.
“It was good to see so many people on the Green and in pockets along the parade route,” said First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove. “The committee did a good job getting residents out to thank those that served.”
The Veterans’ Day address was given by American Legion Post 83 Commander Donald Langlois.
State Rep. Sean Scanlon organized a “Why should we thank our veterans” essay contest and winner Giulianna Barros, an 8th grader at Walsh Intermediate and runner-up Gianna DeCarlo a 5th grader also at WIS read their winning essays.
Stony Creek Fife and Drum Corps performed on the Green.
The ceremonies concluded with the benediction, Taps and Firing Squad.
The parade stepped off shortly after 1:30 p.m. and proceeded to North Harbor Street and 2484 The parade returns back to the Green
returned to the Green to be dismissed.
Performing in the parade were the Stony Creek Fife and Drum Corp…
the 2nd Company Governors Foot Guard, led by Branford native Major Richard K. Greenalch, Jr….
Branford High School Band, East Shoreline Catholic Academy Fife and Drum Corps (formerly St. Mary’s School F&D), and Totoket Ancient Fife and Drum Corps. The Branford Town Band remained on the Green and played a variety of military songs.
Among the other units and marchers were…
the Branford Garden Club,Take a Vet Fishing, Boy’s Scout Troup 428 and other Boy’s and Girl Scout units, members of Elks Lodge #1939, and the Knights of Columbus, several vintage cars and a number of the town’s fire units.
Town Clerk Lisa Arpin drove World War II Veteran Vincent Thomas along the parade route.
In addition to Cosgrove and Scanlon, other officials attending included outgoing State Sen. Ted Kennedy, Jr. and State Rep. Lonnie Reed and as well as incoming State Sen. Christine Cohen and State Rep. Robin Comey.
Officials marching included Robin Comey (left), Christine Cohen, Lonnie Red, Jamie Cosgrove, Sean Scanlon and Deputy Police Chief Jonathan Mulhern.
The parade returns back to the Green, led by the Branford High School Band.
Prior to the Green ceremonies and parade, a veterans unit visited the town’s seven cemeteries to place wreaths lower the flag and play Taps followed later by naval services held on the Montowese Street Bridge.
Parade committee member Ray Ingraham places a wreath at the Civil War Monument.
Members of the firing squad fired three rounds at each of the town’s cemeteries
American Legion Commander Donald Langlois and singer Lia Witten dropped a wreath off the Montowese Street bridge
