Sponsored by the Town of Ridgefield and organized by American Legion Post #78, the Ridgefield Memorial Day Parade steps off at 11:30 am from Jesse Lee United Methodist Church on Monday, May 29.
The patriotic day will begin with a ceremony held in front of the Soldier’s Monument at Jesse Lee United Methodist Church. The ceremony will include a 21 gun salute courtesy of the American Legion Honor Guard. Wreaths will be placed on the Soldier’s Monument in front of Jesse Lee as well as Veterans Park Memorial at the Lounsbury House in honor of those who were killed or wounded in service of our country.
The parade, which features a plethora of civic organizations, marching bands, and veteran's groups, has been organized by Ridgefielder and American Legion member, Denis Loncto who has been working on parade details tirelessly since January. We asked Denis a few questions about the 2017 parade festivities.
Q: What is your role as Parade Coordinator?
A: My job is really to assemble all of the elements: the marchers, the floats, the cars, the bands, etc. So, basically I start working in January on this! An important part is in the hands of another fellow that is in the American Legion, his name is Dick Godbout. He has the very difficult task of organizing the line of march! The staging over at Jesse Lee is critically important so they [the marchers] out in an orderly fashion onto the route of the parade.
Q: How many Marching Bands will participate in this year’s parade?
A: We have hired seven marching bands and Mike McNamara from the [Ridgefield] High School added his band, so we’ll have eight all together. This is very fitting because we will have eight divisions for this parade.
Q: Who will be the Grand Marshal this year?
A: This year it is going to be a gentleman by the name of Dick Mayhew, he’s a Veteran of the Air Force and a pilot who trained other pilots in World War II. The Honorary Grand Marshal is Doug Clewell, a long time member of the American Legion.
Q: A much anticipated part of this parade has been the fly-over. Will that happen this year?
A: We put in the application and we are still waiting to hear. It [the application] has to go to the Pentagon to be approved and then back to the International Guard here in Connecticut. The fly-over is very dependent on the weather, for one thing, and the availability of a plane, because you can imagine, just about every community in Connecticut that has a Memorial Day Parade would love to have a fly-over.
Q: Is anything different from years prior in this parade?
A: We have been able to engage more organizations to march in the parade this year! Seventy-three organizations will participate
Q: And, the last question, do you any message for residents and HamletHub readers?
A: Well, just a request - that the proper meaning of the day is observed: respect and reverence to remember the American Veterans who have served, who already served and also those who are currently serving.