VFW Post 653 Plans Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony

VFW Plans Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony

The Town of New Canaan and the Howard M. Bossa and Peter C. Langenus Post 653 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) of the United States are pleased to announce plans for a traditional New Canaan Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 26th, and Memorial Day Ceremony following the parade at Lakeview Cemetery.

Each year we gather to remember with gratitude and honor the proud men and women who gave their lives while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces to protect and preserve a life of freedom for all Americans.

The Parade steps off from St. Mark’s Church at 9:30 am and proceeds down Oenoke Ridge Road to upper Main Street, past the Wayside Cross at God’s Acre, past the Firehouse and Town Hall, and continues down Main Street turning and entering the Cemetery through the gates on the left near Millport Avenue. There at the flagpole, parade watchers and marchers gather with Veterans and Town officials for remarks about the true meaning and purpose of the Memorial Day holiday. All residents are invited and encouraged to attend the parade and ceremony.

For the first time, this year’s ceremony will have a flyover by the 118th Airlift Squadron out of Bradley ANGB with a C-130 aircraft at exactly 11am.

This year, the VFW selected Brian van der Heyden to act as the parade’s Grand Marshall. The keynote speaker for the Memorial Day ceremony is Major Charles Paksi.

Keynote Speaker: Major Charles Paksi

Charles Paksi is a decorated Marine Corps Veteran and current member of the Connecticut National Guard. He has combat deployments to Somalia in 1992, and Afghanistan in 2002 and 2010. Charles is a Director at Altium Wealth Management in Purchase NY. Charles is a distinguished member of the Stamford Patriotic and Special Events Commission. Charles resides in Stamford CT with his wife, Alexis and their four children.

The VFW Post is led by Francis “Mike” McGlinn as Commander. Serving with him are Aaron Hall, Senior Vice Commander, Paul Gjuraj, Junior Vice Commander, John Kowalski, Quartermaster, and Brian van der Heyden, Chaplain. The Post meets at the Masonic Lodge at 231 Main Street.

Mr. McGlinn, who served as an Artillery Officer during the Vietnam War, commented, "Memorial Day is a great opportunity for all of us to remember everyone who made the ultimate sacrifice in military service for our country.”

Grand Marshall: Brian van der Heyden

A native New Canaanite, Brian attended local school and graduated from New Canaan High School in 1965. He is from a family of six United States Marines.

In September of 1966 Brian enlisted in the United States Marine Corps with four other local buddies. Their basic training was done at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon the completion of his “boot camp” Brian traveled to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina for infantry training. From there he flew to Camp Pendleton in California for schools battlaion, advanced combat training and staging. His next destination was Okinawa for further processing. After three days on Okinawa he boarded a commercial flight and flew into at that time, the busiest airport in the world; DaNang Airport, Republic of South Vietnam.

While in Vietnam van der Heyden served in DaNang, Tam Ky, Quang tri, Phu Bai, Gia Le and Hue City. As “Point Man” he served on more than one hundred day and night patrols in the jungles and rice paddies of Vietnam. He survived the 1968 Tet offensive battle of Hue City.

He earned the Marine Corps Combat Action award, Presidential Unit Commendation (awarded twice), Vietnam Service Medal with four starts, and the Meritorious Unit Commendation Award, among others. Brian is the recipient of a Meritorious Combat Promotion and Letter of Commendation from his Commanding Officer.

Upon returning to the United States he earned two degrees in Criminal Justice from the University of New Haven.

Brian’s late father was a decorated combat Marine who fought in the battles of Guadalcanal and Bougainville during World War II. His son, Daniel Lee, currently a Lieutenant on the Fairfield, Connecticut Police Department served with Charlie Co., 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division.

Brian received the honor of being the invited keynote speaker at his Alma Mater on Veterans Day 2018. He was the keynote speaker at the Memorial Day Ceremony in 2018. He is a 73 year parishioner of St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Church and a 57 year Life Member of VFW Post 653 where he currently serves as Chaplain. He is a life member of the Marine Corps Association and supports numerous Marine Corps and Veteran organizations.

Brian is honored to represent the town of New Canaan as Grand Marshall at this year’s Memorial Day services.

Other Notable Participants

New Canaan Police Department will provide the Color Guard. Msgr. Robert Kinnally, pastor of St. Aloysius Church, will represent New Canaan clergy and will offer the Invocation and Benediction at the ceremony. First Selectman Dionna Carlson will open and the Ceremony with remarks and introduce VFW Commander Mike McGlinn and Keynote Speaker Major Charles Paksi. The Board of Selectman and Town Council members will also be present at the Ceremony.

The parade and ceremony will also include music performed by the New Canaan Town Band, New Canaan High School Band, School of Rock and the Mount Kisco Scottish Pipes and Drums. The ceremony will include the playing of taps by bugler and New Canaan High School graduate Michael Mank.

There will be a pancake Breakfast sponsored by the Harmony Lodge Masons at the Masonic Lodge beginning at 7am, and hot dogs, ice cream sandwiches and sodas, courtesy of the New Canaan Fire Company #1 after the parade and ceremony at the back of the firehouse on Main Street.

No parking will be allowed on Main Street from 8 a.m. until the parade finishes.

The Line of March will be posted on the Town website www.newcanaan.info on Thursday, May 22.

In the event of heavy rain, a parade cancelation notice will be posted on the Town website at www.newcanaan.info and social media pages and the Memorial Ceremony will be conducted at Town Hall at 10:00 am with limited seating.