Old Saybrook’s Memorial Day Parade will take place on Monday, May 29, at 10 a.m. Not only will the day feature the traditional parade but also a military jet flyover as well.

Assembly for the parade begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Stop & Shop parking lot off Elm Street. The route will take marchers across Route 1 to Main Street and then to the veterans’ memorial monuments on the Town Green. A memorial program will take place there. In the case of rain, there will be a ceremony at 10 a.m. at the Old Saybrook Fire Headquarters at 310 Main Street. Gil Simmons, a United States Marine Corps veteran and Chief Meteorologist for NEWS8 WTNH, will be the master of ceremonies.

In addition to the traditional parade, organizer Max Sabrin said that there will be two flyovers during the parade if the weather cooperates. One is done by The Connecticut Air National Guard and the other by a private plane, Sabrin said.

“It’s really all predicated on the weather factors if they can fly over. It’s really exciting to see; they’re big planes and get pretty low,” Sabrin said.

All veterans are invited to attend, and rides in the parade route are available for those unable to march. Those interested should contact Sabrin at 860-395-5550.

While many folks may think of Memorial Day as a long weekend that marks the unofficial beginning of summer, it’s important to remember the actual meaning of the day is to honor those that gave their life for their country.

“It’s remembering the following that paid the ultimate sacrifice. It’s honoring and remembering,” Sabrin said.

Besides the parade, a second, more somber ceremony is scheduled earlier that day.

The Dockside Naval ceremony will begin at 9:00 a.m. Assembly for that ceremony begins at 8:45 a.m. at the Saybrook Point Pavilion parking lot located at the end of College Street. The wreath-laying ceremony begins at 9 a.m. on the Connecticut River. That ceremony will take place rain or shine and is open to the public.

“This is for service personnel who fell during battle on the waters,” Sabrin explained.

Sabrin estimated that the parade and ceremony will take around 90 minutes to complete and encouraged the public to attend.

“Wear your red, white, and blue, and come say thank you to a veteran,” Sabrin said.