Commemorating Memorial Day in the Valley
Chester, Deep River, and Essex have several parades and ceremonies set for next weekend to commemorate those who died in active military service. Local observances begin on Friday, May 25 and are capped in all three towns with parades on Monday, May 28.
Valley Regional High School, 256 Kelsey Hill Road, Deep River, will host its Memorial Day ceremony on Friday, May 25 at 9 a.m. followed by a Memorial Day assembly at 10:30 a.m.
Deep River will begin its Memorial Day ceremonies on Sunday, May 27 at the Winthrop Baptist Church at 1 p.m. There will be a parade unit that will march to the Winthrop Cemetery for ceremonies. Following the ceremonies, the parade units will re-form and march to the Baptist Church and then reassemble at the Sobieski Society grounds, 10 Woodland Road, Deep River, for ceremonies followed by refreshments.
Deep River continues Memorial Day observances with a parade at 9 a.m. on May 28 starting from Devitt Field. The parade will make a stop at the flag pole in Fountain Hill Cemetery and then reform on High Street, where it will continue to its final destination, the Memorial Green.
In the event of rain, the parade at Devitt Field will be canceled by the American Legion, but veterans will regroup at the Memorial Green where a brief ceremony will still take place.
Chester’s parade will also begin at 9 a.m. on May 28 at the War Memorial on Route 154. There will be a gathering at the flag pole in the village center where the elementary school band will provide tributes and music.
The parade will conclude at the Old Meeting House, where refreshments will be served by the Chester Hose Co. More information can be found at facebook.com/visitchesterct.
Essex will host its parade beginning at 9 a.m. at the foot of Main Street in Essex. The parade route visits the local cemeteries, where music will played, flags raised, and a short prayer administered.
Essex’s parade will end at Essex Veterans Memorial Hall where there will be a closing ceremony as well as complimentary food. Walt Budney will be the grand marshal this year.
