The annual Branford Memorial Day Parade will be held on Monday, May 28, stepping off from the town green. Opening ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m. on the Branford green, followed by the parade on Main Street beginning at 10:30 a.m.

For members of the town's veterans' groups, Memorial Day events begin at 6:45 a.m. with visits to honor the military at rest at each of the town's seven cemeteries. Each visit will include lowering of the flag to half mast, playing taps and firing squad salute. The visits begin with Center Cemetery, followed by St. Agnes, Tabor, St. Mary's, Damascus, Mill Plain and Stony Creek cemeteries. In addition, each of the town's 1749 military graves will be embellished with an American flag placed by members of local Scout troops and other volunteers during the week leading up to Memorial Day.

Following the May 28 cemetery visits, veterans will gather on Monotowese Street at the Hubbard Bridge at 9:15 a.m.  A wreath will be laid on the waters of the Branford River, with national anthem and naval hymn performed by the Branford High School band and a vocalist.

The entourage then gathers with the public for the 10 a.m. Memorial Day ceremony on the Branford green. And invocation, performance of the National Anthem and greetings by First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove will follow. Master of Ceremonies Army Captain Vince Giordano will introduce this year's group of six Parade Marshals, each a decorated World War II veteran and Branford resident. The 2018 Branford Memorial Day Parade Marshals are: Ira Lewis, 97, U.S. Army; Grant Briggs, 91, U.S. Army;  Bill Brody, 98, U.S. Air Force;  Donald Robinson, 91, U.S. Army (WWII and Korean War); Vincent Thomas, 92, U.S. Navy and Stan Petela, 95, Air Force. (See related document for photo and more information on each WWII veteran).

Throughout the 30-minute ceremony, additional musical selections will be played by band and fife and drum units participating in the parade. Another annual tradition, the reading of the Gettysburg Address, undertaken for the past 40 years by Frank J. Kinney III; will be handed on this year to be read by Kinney's brother, Michael Kinney, as Frank J. Kinney III regrettably will not be able to attend the ceremony, noted Veterans Parade Committee chairman Bill O'Brien. The ceremony will also include two fifth grade Walsh Intermediate School students reading their winning parade essays entitled, "What Memorial Day Means to Me." The playing of Taps, followed a Firing Squad salute and a benediction will conclude the ceremony.

The parade sets off with Parade Marshals' vehicle escorts in the lead, followed by veterans of American Legion Post 83 and Walter Dymarczyk Memorial Post 12106 Veterans of Foreign Wars, town officials and elected dignitaries, as well as a number of Scouting units and youth groups. Other marching groups include Branford Elks Lodge 1939, Branford Lions Club, Knights of Columbus, the Columbus Day Parade Committee of Greater New Haven and the Branford Garden Club, which will have a float. The parade will also include a collection of antique and vintage cars and the town's Fire and Police emergency apparatus. At least four bands/fife and drum units are set to participate in the parade including the Stony Creek Fife and Drum Corps, Branford High School Marching Band, St. Mary's School Fife and Drum Corps, Totoket Ancient Fife and Drum Corps and the Branford Town Band.

The parade will proceed on Main Street to North Harbor Street and return to the green. In case of inclement weather, the parade will be cancelled, but 10 a.m. ceremonies will take place in the Branford High School gymnasium, 185 East  Main St. Check the Town of Branford website under Department of Parks and Recreation here for notice of cancellation.