New Canaan's Memorial Day Parade Line of March and Ceremony Information

The Town of New Canaan and the Howard M. Bossa and Peter C. Langenus Post 653 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States are pleased to announce plans for a traditional New Canaan Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 29 at 9:30 AM and Memorial Day Ceremony following the parade at Lakeview Cemetery.  

The Grand Marshal and Guest Speaker for this year’s parade will be John McLane. The Rev. Matt Curry, Sr., Pastor, United Methodist Church of New Canaan will give the Invocation and Benediction.

All residents are invited to attend the parade and ceremony. 

Each year we gather to remember with gratitude and honor the proud men and women who gave their lives while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces to protect and preserve a life of freedom for all Americans.

Line of March:

The Exchange Club and the Yalesville Fife & Drum Corps will march 15 minutes before the Parade starts to hand out U.S. flags

1. Color Guard
2. Grand Marshal
3. Veterans
4. Town Band
5. Town Officials and Clergy
6. Board of Education
7. Police Department
8. US Naval Sea Cadets Corps
9. Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)
10. Girl Scouts, Brownies, Daisies and the Service Unit
11. Knights of Columbus
12. Boy Scouts & Cub Scouts
13. New Canaan EMS
14. Mount Kisco Scottish Bagpipers
15. Fire Department
16. Vista Fire Department
17. CERT - Community Emergency Response Team
18. New Canaan Mounted Troop
19. New Canaan High School Band
20. New Canaan Baseball
21. New Canaan Softball
22. School of Rock
23. Staying Put in New Canaan
24. New Canaan Beautification League
25. GetAbout
26. Waveny Lifecare Network
27. New Canaan Men’s Club
28. Town of New Canaan Department of Public Works (DPW)

Route:
The Parade will start at 9:30 a.m. at the traditional start in the St. Mark’s Church parking lot on Oenoke Ridge Road. The Parade route will proceed down Oenoke Ridge to upper Main Street, past the Wayside Cross and past the Firehouse and Town Hall and will continue straight down Main Street until arriving at the entrance of Lakeview Cemetery where parade marchers can enter the Cemetery for the Ceremony or can disperse South on lower Main Street.  (Note: No street parking will be allowed on Main Street from 8:00 am until the parade finishes.)

The Memorial Ceremony:
The ceremony in Lakeview Cemetery after the parade will be conducted under the direction of Post 653 VFW Commander Mike McGlinn.

1. Introduction – First Selectman remarks and introduces the VFW Commander
2.  Invocation 
3.  Raising of the flag 
4.  Pledge of Allegiance 
5.  Star Spangled Banner – New Canaan Town Band
6.  Veterans Ceremony 
7.  Placing of wreaths and flags by DAR and Girl Scouts
8.   Guest Speaker
9.  VFW closing remarks and gun salute
10.  Taps
11.  Closing Music 
12.  Benediction 
13.  Final announcements 

In the event of heavy rain, a parade cancelation notice will be posted on Town social and website at www.newcanaan.info. 
In the event of parade cancelation, a Memorial Ceremony will be conducted at Town Hall at 10:00 am, with limited public seating.