Biggest Crowd In Decade At Branford Veterans Day Ceremony/Parade

BRANFORD, CT -Whether it was because Sunday was exactly 100 years to the day when world leaders signed the Armistice ending World War I and its four years of bloody conflict, the fact that it was a beautiful weather day or that organizers had expressed disappointment with turnout in recent years, Sunday’s Veterans Day ceremonies and parade in Branford had the biggest crowd in years.

Branford actually almost cancelled the parade last year but decided at the last minute to try and keep the tradition alive.

It seems the effort was worth it as the Branford Green had a nice size crowd in attendance.

Many towns have given up on holding the annual parade - Branford is one of the few that still has one.

This year's parade started a ceremony beginning on the front Green and the parade.

“I was very happy with the crowd,” said Veteran's Day Parade Committee chairman Bill O'Brien.

“The Green looked somewhat like Memorial Day with large numbers of marchers and supporters. I was impressed with the turnout,” O’Brien added.

“We appealed to the residents to attend and they did. It wasn't that big along Main Street to North Harbor Street but it was probably the biggest audience we've had in over 10 years. No question the weather had a lot to do with it. We'll do it again next year for sure, our veterans deserve it,” O’Brien said.

There was six musical marching units, Stony Creek Fife and Drum Corps, the 2nd Company Governors Foot Guard, Branford High School Marching Band , East Shoreline Catholic Academy Fife and Drum Corps (formerly St Mary's School Fife and Drum Corps) and Totoket Ancient Fife and Drum Corps. The Branford Town Band did not march but performed military songs on the Green during the parade.

Other units in the parade included a Take a Vet Fishing float, a Branford Garden Club float, Antique and Vintage cars, Elks Lodge #1939 members, members of the Knights of Columbus, members of the Branford Fire Companies and a number of Girls and Boy Scouts as well as Brownies and Cub Scouts.

Pastor Steve Chamberlain of the Evangelical Free Church delivered the Invocation and Benediction, Selectman Jamie Cosgrove gave greetings and American Legion Post 83Commander Donald Langlois gave the Address. Captain Vincent Giordano served as the Master of Ceremonies.

Beginning at 9:00 am members of the committee conducted ceremonies at the towns seven cemeteries concluding with the laying of wreaths and the playing of Taps. There was also a Naval Memorial Service on the South Montowese Street Bridge at 12:15 pm.

Photos by Jack Kramer