Printer Friendly Version - Branford's Nov. 11 Veterans Day Parade Honors All Who Serve

In 2015 this photo was taken of the sparsely attended Veterans' Day Parade in Branford. Organizers began asking the community to support the parade and saw an upward increase in last year's attendance. They hope to see an even better number this year, when the parade takes place at 1:30 p.m. ; following 1 p.m. ceremonies on the Green on Sun. Nov. 11, 2018.Photo by Bill O'Brien

Oct. 29, 2018: Once again, the town of Branford will hold a Veterans Day Parade. This year's parade will be held on Sunday, Nov. 11 with a ceremony beginning at 1 p.m. on the front of the Branford town green. The parade will be stepping off Main Street 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."

Last year, after the committee told the residents that it might be the last year of a parade on Veterans Day more people weren't in attendance; it was obvious there was a bigger crowd than the year before. Even though there was an appearance of rain earlier in the day, it held off until after the speaking program ended and the committee agreed to march in the day's steady, light rain.

"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.

The parade route heads west on Main Street to North Harbor Street and returns to the Green to be dismissed. The 2018 Branford Veterans Day Parade's musical marching units include 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 and members of Elks Lodge #1939, the Knights of Columbus, Branford Fire Companies and a number of Girls and Boy Scouts as well as Brownies and Cub Scouts.

Beginning at 9 a.m. on parade day, members of the committee will conduct ceremonies at the town's 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 p.m.

During the parade's opening ceremony on the Branford green at 1 p.m., Pastor Steve Chamberlain of the Evangelical Free Church will deliver the Invocation and Benediction, First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove will give greetings and American Legion Post 83 Commander and 2018 Veterans Day Parade Marshal Donald Langlois will give the Address. Captain Vincent Giordano with serve as the Master of Ceremonies.

In case of inclement weather, parade ceremonies will be moved to the Branford High School gymnasium, 185 East Main St., beginning at 1 p.m.