By Submission, Veteran's Parade Committee May 30, 2024

The 36th Annual Captain Thomas Yester Essay Contest, "What Memorial Day Means to Me," drew many entries, with 10 winners, including first place, runner-up, and 8 honorable mentions, selected.

On May 27, first place winner Brian Cody Mackinnel, grade 8 and runner up, Carter Garceau, read their essays as part of the Memorial Day Ceremony on the Branford Green on May 27. The students submitted their essays through their Social Studies classes, taught by Carl Seeley and Gail Mattie-Boyle, respectively.

Mackinnel’s winning essay states, “On Memorial Day, we honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice defending our nation's freedom. Their courage and selflessness allow us to enjoy the liberities we cherish today. We must never take for granted the tremendous debt we owe to our fallen heroes. This solemn day reminds us to reflect on their noble service and to rededicate ourselves to the ideals they fought to uphold. Though words can never repay that debt, we express our profound gratitidute through our actions, by living lives worthy of their sacrifice and safeguarding the democracy they swore to protect.”

Garceua wrote the following poem: “We remember the fallen soliders, They died for you and me; They fought for our freedom, They set this country free. We celebrate this holiday, For the soldiers who died, All we can do is remember them, With heart and pride!”

Honorable Mention winners were eighth graders Jessica Adhikari, Peter Anaclerio, and Shifaq Fazi; seventh graders Medeleine Roussat and Grace Salter; and fifth graders Bella Murphy, Elsie Sorrentino, and Luca Toro.

All of the students received certificates indicating their honor, and were presented with cash prizes sponsored by the Branford Community Foundation. The winner received $150, runner-up $100, and Honorable Mention students received $35 each.

The contest was created by Veterans Parade Committee member Bill O'Brien in 1989, the year he served as Branford’s Memorial Day Parade Grand Marshal. Walsh Intermediate School (WIS) Assistant Principal Peter Anaclerio coordinated the contest at WIS. Judges for this year’s contest were O'Brien, Harvey Goldstein, Lisa Reisman, and Sandy Kraus.