There’s not much Philip Zielinski won’t do for his hometown, from acting as Branford’s keeper of the flags, to leading ceremonial rife squad duties, and even serving as candy field-commander for the town’s annual Easter Egg hunt this Saturday, April 9, at Foote Memorial Park.

The Army veteran and Branford native is a 27-year-member of Branford American Legion Post 83, a 14-year-member of Branford’s Veterans Parade Committee, and a 37-year-member of Branford Elks Lodge 1939 and has been a card member of M.P. Rice Fire Company for well over 40 years.

For his part, Philip likes to stay behind the scenes when conducting a number of volunteer services underpinning programs tied to Branford.

“There’s a lot who are better than me, that’s all I know,” says Philip. “I just walk in the shadows of the ones that have gone before me. I just try to keep it right, and do the best I can in remembrance of them.”

Keeper of the Flags

When it comes to serving as Branford’s keeper of the flags, a volunteer post he’s held for 15 years, “...I have to pay tribute to Master Sgt. Walter Zielinski—that’s my uncle—and Tommy Yester,” says Philip.

The late Walter Zielinski, who passed away in 2017, was known as “the Sarge” and served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Captain Thomas Yester, a World War II veteran, was equally well-known and respected and passed away in 2012.

Philip helped his uncle and Yester with flag-keeping duties for eight years before taking on the title.

“I was helping them because they couldn’t climb up and down the poles anymore, so I would volunteer and do what I needed to do,” says Philip.

It’s no small task: Each Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Presidents Day, Flag Day, and Independence Day (as well as other events that may arise), the flags, kept in Philip’s possession, need to be set into lampposts lining Main Street. When the job’s done, the flags stretch from a point beginning at the intersection of Main Street and East Main/Chestnut streets all the way up to the area of Richlin’s Plaza.

“My best helpers are my bride—that’s my wife Theresa—and my daughters Kelsey and Kimberly were also a big help for many years,” says Philip. “And I have my uncle Walt’s ladder specifically made for the poles; it’s notched so you don’t fall over.”

With their girls now grown and on their own, “it’s me and my wife now,” says Philip of the flag duties. “There’s approximately 70 flags that we put out and take down through the center of town.”

Military Connections

Philip also credits “the Sarge” with helping him to get his start in the military.

“After I got out of high school, I earned an associates degree in solar technology, but the week after I graduated, [then-President Ronald] Reagan pulled the subsidies away from solar technology,” says Philip, a Branford High School (BHS) Class of 1978 alumnus. “So then I talked with my uncle Walt, and my father, who also served, and other people, and they said, ‘Join the service.’ So that’s what I did.”

He joined the Army in 1982, completing his basic training at Fort Dix in New Jersey, then went to the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland as a tank turret repairman, Army Specialist Four. While in basic training with the Army, Philip scored Expert for both M16 rifle and hand grenade. In December 1982, he came back to serve with the Army National Guard based at the Branford Armory. With the National Guard, he qualified as Expert with a .45 service revolver pistol.

In addition to currently serving American Legion Post 83 as sergeant-at-arms and an honorary commander, Philip’s in charge of its rifle squad. That’s his voice citizens hear calling for the firing of three synchronized volleys during town and military ceremonies. Depending on those available to volunteer, the squad can range from 3 to 7 members. The rifle squad presents at Branford public military programs as well as those held at town’s cemeteries, marches in town parades, and takes part in other significant programs such as Branford’s annual 9/11 tribute and, more recently, Branford’s annual Wreaths Across America (WAA) program, organized by Mark Hally. For many years, Philip has also brought squad members to St. Agnes Cemetery for an annual memorial service conducted by St. John Bosco Parish (St. Mary’s Church) the week before Memorial Day.

Several years back, Philip’s daughters were also among his rifle squad members.

“My oldest one, Kelsey, she actually was the only person in the town of Branford that was carrying an M1 carbine while playing the flute,” he notes.

As a member of the BHS band, Kelsey performed with the band during the Veterans Parade Committee’s annual Naval ceremonies at the Hubbard Bridge on South Montowese Street. From there, she’d step off with the rifle squad to march up to the Town Green for the day’s public ceremonies.

“She would step off with my younger daughter, Kimberly. And when I called the fire, they were my best shooters,” says Philip.

Philip also takes care of the squad’s M1 Garand rifles. He provided Kelsey with a tutorial on how to dissemble and assemble a rifle to assist with her BHS senior project, a fundraiser that raised money to recondition two of Post 83’s rifles.

Giving Back to Branford

Philip grew up on his family’s farm on Brushy Plain Road, where he also learned how to shoot a .22 rifle as a kid. He also did a bit of scouting for a couple of years as a youth. At 16, he joined M.P. Rice as a volunteer cadet and then as a full member at age 18. He remains a card member.

As a military veteran, Philip was recently recognized for his service to his country. In 2020, he received a Quilt of Honor during a December ceremony, with his family present, at American Legion Post 83. In recognition of his service as keeper of the flags, the maker of the quilt featured American flags for the unique piece given to Philip.

“That was pretty nice,” says Philip of the ceremony, which includes being wrapped in the quilt when it is presented by its maker.

When the WAA convoy made a pit stop at St. Theresa’s Church in Stony Creek in December 2021, Philip got a call from Branford WAA supporter Dottie Packer (NC USN Retired) to come out to meet some of the veterans’ families and others in the convoy, and to please bring his quilt along.

“So I went, and I wore my blanket,” says Philip. “They had state troopers from Maine down to whereever. I talked to them thanked them, and they said ‘No, thank you.’ I said ‘No—thank you guys. I didn’t do anything.’”

As a member of Branford’s Veterans Parade Committee, Philip is among the volunteers of the American Legion Post 83 making sure some 1,700 American flags flutter at veterans’ graves in the town’s cemeteries on military honorary days and other holidays. Philip oversees putting out and removing all of the flags at the town’s largest cemetery, St. Agnes. Philip especially gives kudos to the organizers and members of Branford’s Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops who come out to help.

Speaking of kids, this is the time of year when Philip steps up to the challenge of chairing the field work for Branford Parks & Recreation’s annual Robert Marston Easter Egg Hunt, which is sponsored each year by American Legion Post 83.

The popular public event is set for Saturday, April 9, 11 a.m. at Foote Park on Melrose Avenue. No registration is required for the free event, which is open to all Branford children ages 10 and under and also includes a food allergy division. To make it to the hunt on time, kids are required to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start. The rain date is Sunday, April 10.

With a laugh, Philip says of this particular volunteer role, “I have to blame past [American Legion] commander Dana Strickland for this one. I was his assistant for a lot of years.”

The annual hunt goes off in waves, by age groups, on a carefully marked field filled with candy that’s been put in place under Philip’s supervision.

“Before I bring the candy, I bring in rope and stakes and cones so I can stake it out, so I have a grid,” says Philip, who pulls into the park at about 7:30 a.m. to set up with a couple of volunteers on the morning of the hunt.

“I truck all that stuff down, and we set the grid up with ropes, markers and cones; and then we seed the whole place with the candy. And then, we wait... and at 11 o’clock, the kids run through and get the candy. I think we have it boiled down to about 49 seconds by the time they run through and go back—it might be 59,” he says, laughing. “It’s unbelievable!”

Just before the kids take off, Philip likes to have a little fun with the ones lined up at the starting line.

“I walk the line, and if people get a half a foot over the rope, I’ll tell them to step back,” he says. “And then I’ll walk by and say, ‘...I just remembered—did everybody bring a toothbrush for all this candy?’”

In addition to the many different volunteer roles Philip fills for Branford, he’s employed as an operating engineer with Vigliotti Construction of Branford (and prior to that, he was an operating engineer with Cosgrove Construction, for 32 years).

Philip says he plans to keep providing the services of his various volunteer posts to his community for many years to come: “I’m going to go as long as I can.”