Columbus Discovers Branford

It was a classy parade, the biggest and best Branford has ever known or seen. And it was a first, the first time Branford became one of six rotating venues to host New England’s largest Columbus Day Parade.

And, well, the town did the parade proud. 

The event attracted thousands of people who lined the parade route three or four deep on the sidewalks. The 1.3 mile route led into and away from the town Green, where the reviewing stand was set up. 

“This is the best country in the world and I’m glad my father didn’t miss the boat,” said Andrew DeBenedet, who said his father came to this country from Italy. DeBenedet was dressed as Christopher Columbus and was riding on a boat-shaped float to accompany a contingency of members from the Marchegian Society of New Haven.

The marchers represented 164 different groups, many from surrounding towns and New Haven. They began the march under warm, sunny skies at about 1:30 p.m. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman and First Selectman Anthony ​“Unk” DaRos led the parade, along with State Sen. Ed Meyer and State Rep. Lonnie Reed. The day before DaRos brought Branford’s wreath to Wooster Square, the symbolic start of the Columbus Day festivities.

Everyone was upbeat, especially the scores of bands and fife and drum corps groups who arrived in Branford from the across the state. 

The parade marked Branford’s entry into a now six-venue rotation for the annual parade, including New Haven, East Haven, West Haven, North Haven and Hamden. Planning began more than 18 months ago, to have the parade coincide with the 75th anniversary of Branford’s Italian-American Club.

First Selectman DaRos, who served as the parade’s honorary chairman, recalled the roots of the parade. ​“Some members of the Italian-American club came up to me and said you know in 2013 it is going to be the Italian-American’s club 75th birthday and it would be nice if we got in the rotation for the Columbus Day Parade. I agreed. It was a good idea. So off we went.”

“It is very important to do things like this. It took a lot of work to get Branford in the rotation,” he added. Next year the parade will be held in North Haven. Mike Freda, the North Haven First Selectman, was on hand yesterday. So was East Haven Mayor Joe Maturo,Jr. So were many organizations, including the Branford Rotary, the VFW, the Knights of Columbus, and so many more. 

Paul Criscuolo, co-chair of the event, took a lead role. ​“We have been working on this for two years. A big congratulations to the whole town,” he declared.

“It’s a great organization,“ said Gaetano Verni Jr., 85, who has been an Italian-American club member for 61 years and previously served as president for 16 years. While waiting for the parade to begin, he held up an American flag and an Italian flag. ​“You see what I’m waving — two flags,” he said. ​“I’m proud of this heritage.”

Alex Palluzzi, Branford’s director of recreation, said having the parade in town to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the Italian-American Club was very historic.

“Branford’s been looking forward to this for years,” said Palluzzi. He credited DaRos as the driving force to bring the parade to town. ​“Unk made it happen,” he said.

Palluzzi, whose grandfather emigrated here from Italy, said the parade is one way of teaching the importance of heritage to the younger generation. 

This was especially true when it came to the different marching bands. The St Mary’s School Fife and Drum Corp (pictured), a brand new group, marched for only the second time. They made their debut at the Memorial Day parade in Branford. 

The legendary Stony Creek Fife and Drum Corp (pictured) marched. 

Some of the moments were somber.

And sometimes it was just the beat that mattered. 

“What a beautiful day for a parade,” said Capt. Richard Greenalch Jr. (at right in photo, with the governor) of the Second Company of the Governor’s Foot Guard, which is stationed at the Branford Armory. ​“It means a lot to us and to all the citizens of Branford,” said Greenalch, who has marched in about 30 Columbus Day parades. Greenalch is also a longtime member of the Representative Town Meeting. 

Branford’s Italian-American Club had a large contingency at the parade. Jeff Vailette, one of the grand marshals and the president of the club, said the parade was simply ​“great for the town. It is a celebration of our heritage here in the Northeast.” And it seemed that folks were enthusiastic to be in Branford. Edward Mauro served as the other grand marshal.

There were kids everywhere you turned.

Dominic Corraro, a teacher at Notre Dame High School in West Haven, was heading up a group of the school’s honor students who were carrying a large Italian flag at the beginning of the parade. ​“It’s a thrill to carry this flag,” he said. ​“It’s an honor.”

The band from the Betsy Ross Arts Magnet Middle School in New Haven marched.

And there were candidates, too, especially since the local election is only three weeks away.

“It’s a grand way of celebrating our small town. It’s a perfect parade,” said Second Selectman Andy Campbell, who’s running for first selectman on the Democratic ticket. ​“It’s a very proud day.”

Third Selectman James Cosgrove, who is running for first selectman on the Republican ticket, said: ​“It’s an opportunity to showcase what a great town Branford is. It’s an event that shows what makes Branford great, just like the festival and the fireworks.”

Jacey Wyatt, who is running for first selectwoman on her own independent ticket, had her own float. Well, sort of. 

The Branford P.D. was out in force for this parade, especially in light of the many top government officials marching on the street.

Police Capt. Geoffrey Morgan had a special vehicle to take him quickly through the streets. 

The parade took about two hours from start to finish, with a nod to the reviewing stand that stood at the corner of Main and Montowese Streets. From the stand, Chris Velardi, WTNH News 8 anchor, served as host, announcing the names of each group, including the Eagle’s (pictured). 

At the end of the route many had sore feet — and happy hearts.

Sally E. Bahner and Diana Stricker contributed reporting for this story.

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