May 16, 2018: For the first time in the history of the Branford Memorial Day parade, there will be more than one parade marshal leading the marchers on Monday, May 28. Six Branford veterans who served in World War II have agreed to lead the parade this year and will be introduced at the ceremonies on the Green at 10 a.m., prior to the parade stepping off at 10:30 a.m. They will then be driven in convertibles along the parade route to be recognized for their service.  (See related article for additional ceremony/parade information)

"We're really excited that these Branford veterans have agreed to lead this year's parade", said Bill O'Brien chairman of the Veterans Parade Committee. "One of our members, Phil Zielinski, thought of the idea at our meeting back in February. We thought it was a terrific idea and set out to try and find those that served back then".

The committee checked the ranks of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars and spoke to a number of veterans who served back then to see if they would participate or knew any of any others that might like to. Several that were contacted appreciated the invitation but weren't up to it. "We had the names of about 15 vets but for different reasons many of them just couldn't do it", said O'Brien. "We were disappointed but we understand because of age or some health issues they couldn't commit".

ABOUT THE MARSHALS:

Ira Lewis, 97,is a Branford resident having moved here from New York City. His interest in photography led him to joining the Army so he could take advantage of their offer to train him. He joined in 1940 when the war in Europe seemed distant. He was assigned to the Army War College where he learned the technical aspects of photography that eventually took him to an assignment in the Philippines where he captured the bloody aftermath of the battle of Manila in February 1945. He is a recipient of the Bronze Star.

Grant Briggs, 91, graduated from Branford High School in 1946 and joined the Army serving in Germany at the end of the war. He was a member of the U.S. Army First Division and attained the rank of sergeant before his discharge in 1948. He has been a member of the American Legion Post 83 for twenty-two years serving as Chaplin for the Post for the past 21 years.

The oldest member of the group is Bill Brody, 98, who signed up to serve on February 2, 1943 and was assigned to the Air Force 86th Squadron. Shortly after he was shipped out to Great Britain and spent the next two and a half years serving several units in England, France and Germany. He attained the rank of Sergeant and was discharged on December 14, 1945. He proudly wears his numerous decorations when he wears his uniform. In 2017 he was the Marshal of the Branford Memorial Day Parade.

Donald Robinson, 91, is a veteran of both WW II and the Korean War. His service in the second of the two war's led to honors for his bravery. Two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. The Bronze Stars were for returning to a bunker to bring out several Army buddies who were seriously wounded by a mortar shell and the second was for taking out a machine gun nest with a pipe bomb. He received the Purple Heart when he was hit by shrapnel while heading back over the 38th parallel tearing open his stomach and requiring 136 stitches.

Vincent 'Vinnie' Thomas, 92, joined the U.S. Navy just short of his 17th birthday in 1943. He participated in the battle of Iwo Jima considered one of the fiercest battles in WW II. The five week struggle to win the island from the Japanese in 1945 resulted in 19,000 American wounded with another over 6800 falling to the enemy. More than 100 of those killed in action were from Connecticut. Back in 1995 Vinnie contributed much to help establish the nation's only Iwo Jima Memorial Monument on the campus at Central Connecticut State University. Beginning in 2004 he served as editor and publisher of the Journal of the Iwo Jima Survivors, recollections of stories by men who fought there.

Stanley Petela, 95, is a graduate of Branford High School Class of 1941 where played baseball and basketball earning all state honors. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1942 and became a crew leader on fighter planes with service in England, France and Germany in during the war.  He achieved the rank of Sergeant and was awarded the Bronze Star for Meritorious Service.