Press Release, Branford Veterans Parade Committee

The annual Branford Veterans Day Parade will be held on Sunday November 6. A ceremony will held on the Branford Green at 1 p.m. and the parade will set off at 1:30 pm.

Participating in this year’s parade will be Stony Creek Fife and Drum Corps, Branford High School Band, Branford Town Band, and Col. John Chester Fife and Drum Corps from Wethersfield. The Wethersfield group recently marched in Branford in the National Muster Parade hosted by Stony Creek Fife and Drum Corps in August.

“We are pleased that the Col. John Chester Fife and Drum Corps will be part of this years parade”, said Bill O'Brien, chairman of the Veterans Parade Committee. “They were formed in 1940 and are the oldest continuously active Junior Ancient Fife and Drum Corps in Connecticut.”

Military units marching in the Nov. 6 Veterans Day Parade in Branford include: Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #12106, Corcoran-Sundquist Post #83 American Legion, 2nd Company Governors Foot Guard and Take a Vet Fishing.

Additional members of the parade will be town and state officials, Branford Garden Club, various Scout groups, antique and vintage cars, Branford Elks Lodge #1939 and members of the Stella Marris Council 10 of the Knights of Columbus.

Event sound system will be provided by Dennis Nardella.

The Grand Marshal and speaker for this year's parade will be Purple Heart recipient CPL Jack Dougherty, USMC, of Branford. Dougherty is the Sr. Vice Commander for Branford's American Legion Post 83. He was the first Marine from the State of Connecticut to be selected as the National Marine of the Year.

Veterans Day memorial ceremonies will be held at the town’s 7 cemeteries beginning at 9 am. on Nov. 6. Ceremonies will include half-masting the American flag, the laying of wreaths, taps and a rifle salute. There will also be a Naval Remembrance Service on the South Montowese Street bridge at 12:15 p.m. The Naval Prayer will be given by Capt. John Fitzgerald, USCG (Ret.). Vocalist Lia Whitten will sing at both the Naval Service and the remembrance ceremony that follows on the Branford green.

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