For over 30 years, residents attending Guilford ceremonies, parades, and programs have heard Horace Little’s talented voice singing the National Anthem in live, lovely tones.

While the patriotic song differs from his days singing doo wop or his years performing in various musicals throughout the state, Horace feels it’s always an honor to assist his community by lending his singing ability to important events.

Now, the community can come out to show their thanks during the Guilford Fair Parade on Saturday, Sept. 17; where Horace, together with wife Wanda will be honored as Parade Grand Marshals.

They’ll be at the head of the parade when it steps off at 10 a.m. from the corners of Whitfield, Water, and Boston streets. The parade will feature dozens of local organizations, school groups, marching units, floats, and much more. It takes place rain or shine.

A Guilford tradition since 1859, the parade is organized by volunteers to help the community celebrate the annual Guilford Fair; which is run separately by the Guilford Agricultural Society. This 2022 Guilford Fair runs Friday Sept. 16, Saturday, Sept. 17, and Sunday, Sept. 18 at the Guilford fairgrounds on Lover’s Lane.

Sponsors of the 2022 Guilford Fair Parade on Sept. 17 are the Guilford Foundation, Page’s Hardware and Appliance Co., Palumbo's Automotive, Guilford Rotary, and Franks Package Store.

Getting Involved in Guilford

The Littles moved to their Trolley Road home 47 years ago with their children, Wendi and Kristine; soon to be followed by their third daughter, Stephanie. They’re now also the proud grandparents of four.

Horace, 84, remembers getting involved in the Guilford Fair Parade with his kids and as a community member.

“I go way back, as far as the parade’s concerned. We used to march in the parade back in the beginning when we first came to Guilford,” he recalls.

In addition to supporting their daughters’ school parade groups and activities like pep club, their daughter Wendi’s involvement with Special Olympics also became an important reason to march in the parade, he says.

Wendi’s involvement as a Special Olympics athlete lasted many years. In 1995, at age 25, she participated in the ninth Special Olympic World Games in New Haven as a member of the women’s volleyball team representing Connecticut.

The Littles were also early and earnest supporters of Guilford’s A Better Chance (ABC) program, established in 1974. At its website, guilfordabc.org, the organization describes its program offering “intelligent and talented young women of color from under-represented communities the opportunity to attend a high quality public high school and a preparatory college-track program.”

Guilford’s was one of the first ABC programs in the country. It came to town at just about the same time the Littles moved here.

“Our community involvement began early because we were involved with the ABC program,” says Wanda. “That was a big chunk of our involvement when we first moved in.

Although they’ve been involved in their community for many years, Horace says he was surprised and touched when the Fair Parade Committee asked if he and Wanda would be the parade’s 2022 Grand Marshals.

“It’s surprising and it’s special to me, because I just never think about those kinds of things,” he says of the honor.

Singing for Guilford

Horace’s singing career started as a frontman with a talented doo wop vocal group.

“He had a band when I met him,” Wanda shares.

Horace’s group cut two songs as a 45 record in 1962 – and had some pretty impressive voices backing them up.

“I had a band – the Bobby Edwards Band – and we had a recording. The Five Satins did backup on the record I recorded,” says Horace, adding with a laugh, “It didn’t do anything!”

Through his singing, Horace found another great way to support his community and important causes.

Among those in Guilford who quickly recognized Horace’s talent was Guilford Veterans of Foreign Wars’ (VFW) Larry Santamaria, who’s asked Horace to sing the National Anthem at the Town’s veteran memorial programs and parades for many years. When then-Secretary of State (now Lt. Gov.) Susan Bysiewicz learned of his talent, she asked Horace to sing the National Anthem at ceremonies and events around the state for many years, as well.

As a performer, Horace also continued singing on stage for many years in top-notch live musicals produced for theater audiences across Connecticut. He’s been cast in many musical productions including those at Yale Repertory Theatre, Long Wharf Theatre, Goodspeed Opera House, and Ivoryton Playhouse.

“He was always involved in performing. He was in musicals while he was also working,” says Wanda.

Horace’s work included many years in both restaurant management and transportation. And, for a number of years, he also worked for the Town of Guilford’s Senior Center, as a driver.

Through it all, Horace shared his vocal talent with his town, he recalls.

“I worked for 12 years at the Guilford Community Center for the seniors,” says Horace. “During that time, and before that time, I was asked to do the National Anthem at six different inaugurations for First Selectman. And for the last 30 to 35 years, I’ve been asked to do the National Anthem for every memorial service that the Town has, including Memorial Day and Veterans Day, Pearl Harbor Day; and the Christmas Tree lighting! And years back, when the town first was doing summer concerts on the green, I was one of the performers.”

Wanda’s career included her work as a 4H-Agent and, prior to retirement, as a county agent with the University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension System.

“I know a lot of 4-H'ers have been involved in the Guilford Fair Parade through the years, and I really respect and admire that. I hope to see a lot more 4-H'ers continue to come out,” she says.

She’s especially proud to note Horace has created his own niche in this agricultural community, as both a successful pollinator gardener and a hobbyist beekeeper.

“It’s interesting, because I feel that also ties in with the Guilford Fair,” says Wanda. “That’s where he spends a lot of time these days. He gives a lot of honey to our neighbors. The first time he every harvested honey, Al Bishop helped.”

Bishop, who passed away in 2017, was a fourth-generation member of a Guilford heritage farm, Bishop’s Orchards.

Since first learning how to gather honey from Bishop, Horace’s beekeeping hobby has grown to include three hives, each of which houses approximately 50,000 bees. Wanda laughs when asked if she helps Horace out with his bees, saying “... he can deal with that Queen on his own!”

Horace keeps his bees healthy with all-natural supplements, such as mixing a combination of three essential oils: wintergreen, lemongrass and tea tree; into their bee syrup.

“I give them bee syrup to help them make honey and help sustain them,” Horace explains. “If I didn’t take honey from them, then they’d have enough honey to sustain themselves. But when you go out and take honey from them, that means they have to work that much harder to replace it. So it’s to help sustain them through the winter months.”

To gather pollen, bees can forage from flowers as far as three miles away. Horace and Wanda say that’s a very good reason why people who don’t keep bees should still try to refrain from using harmful pesticides in their gardens.

Horace established his all-organic pollinator garden at the Little’s home a few years before the Pollinator Pathways of Guilford effort got underway.

“He has a certified butterfly garden,” Wanda notes. “He’s planted flowers especially for them, and he also keeps a habitat to hatch them and release them. We have beautiful butterflies in the garden, and hummingbirds too.”

The Littles love their home, gardens and neighborhood. Many of their neighbors moved in at about the same time that the Littles first arrived, says Horace.

“They’re like family,” Horace says of their neighbors. “We think we live in one of the nicest neighborhoods anywhere in the world.”

To learn more about the 2022 Guilford Fair Parade, visit guilfordfairparade.com To learn more about the 2022 Guilford Fair, visit guilfordfair.org