Branford One Of Few Towns Left Holding Veterans Day Parade

Photo of Donald Langlois

BRANFORD, CT - It’s ironic that this year’s Branford Veterans Day Parade will be held on the 100th anniversary of when world leaders signed the Armistice ending World War I and its four years of bloody conflict.

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

Many towns have given up. Branford is one of the few that still has a parade.

Members of the VFW and American Legion have become disappointed with the poor support shown over the past 8 to 10 years at the November parade.

Memorial Day is held to honor men and women who died while serving in the United States military and Veterans Day is held to honor American veterans for their patriotism, love of country and willingness to serve and sacrifice.

Memorial Day is held on a Monday holiday with not as much competition compared to Veterans Day which is held on a Sunday where there are everything from family dinners to youth sports and other activities such as NFL football games on television.

Also the weather could have a bearing on attendance as well. Naturally November can be chilly and that may stop some people from attending.

This year's parade will be held on Sunday November 11 with a ceremony beginning at 1:00 pm on the front Green and the parade stepping off at 1:30 pm. "We will have six musical marching units participating and there will be several floats", said Veteran's Day Parade Committee chairman Bill O'Brien.

"We're one of the few towns left in Connecticut that has a parade on Veterans Day", said O'Brien. Last year the committee told the residents that it might be the last year of a parade on Veterans Day if there wasn't more people in attendance. Even though there was an appearance of rain earlier in the day it held off until after the speaking program ended but the committee agreed to march in the steady light rain.”

“It was obvious there was a bigger crowd than the year before,” said O’Brien “People turned out even with the rain and we felt, 'if they can do it we can do it', so we marched", said O'Brien.

This year’s parade will head west on Main Street to North Harbor Street and return to the Green and be dismissed.

This year there will be 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 will not march but will perform Military songs on the Green during the parade.

Other units in the parade include 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 will deliver the Invocation and Benediction, Selectman Jamie Cosgrove will give greetings and American Legion Post 83Commander Donald Langlois will give the Address. Captain Vincent Giordano with serve as the Master of Ceremonies.

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

In case of inclement weather Ceremonies will be moved to the High School gymnasium beginning at 1:00 pm.

Representative Town Meeting moderator Dennis Flanigan is asking residents to support the event.

“There was some discussion of doing away with parade,” Flanigan said. “We are one of the few towns that still do a parade. Traditionally not too many people show up and a lot of effort is put into it - so please show up,” said Flanigan.