Flags Withstand Sandy, Athena

A field of flags on the town green honoring the war dead withstood Superstorm Sandy and this week’s Nor’easter (dubbed Athena by the Weather Channel) as they awaited a Veteran’s Day Parade this Sunday. 

The flags represent those men and women killed in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The flags were placed on the Branford Green Oct. 27. Since then families have visited the site, walking to the center to read the names of the dead, one for each war.

The field of flags idea was conceived by the Somers Congregational Church in Somers, Conn. It’s since traveled all over the country and the Branford display is the final one for 2012. We first reported on the field of flags when they were placed on the East Haven Green three years ago. Click here to read the story.

Since then the number of dead has grown. The flags pay tribute to the 6,579 lives of military men and women lost in the two wars. When it originated in 2005, there were 2,231 flags.

The parade, which took place under sunny warm November skies, did not disappoint. Scores of families and kids lined Main St. Sunday afternoon to watch the parade. Veterans of different wars marched together.

The day brought with it many memories. 

Here is a day many will never forget 

The parade included the Boy Scouts.

And the Brownies.

The Stony Creek Fife and Drum Corps was on hand.

So were a group of volunteer firefighters. Bill Miller was there, waving his hand to his family who sat on the sidelines. 

And joining this year’s parade were a small fleet of antique police cars, including a few from New York City. 

Sometimes it took a balancing act to get used to holding the flags correctly.

Some residents got there early. Here is Tootsie Laske, former town clerk and her friends Ruth and Faith. Ruth managed to escape a tree that fell into a friend’s apartment at the Rosenthal Gardens during Hurricane Sandy. Click here to read our story. 

The Branford High School Hornets band marched proudly in the parade and then stopped, assuming formation before the reviewing stand of the town’s top officials. They played the four military hymns representing the Army, the Navy, the Marines and the Air Force. Those who fought in America’s wars stood at attention on the sidelines.

Those on stage, including First Selectman Unk DaRos, Second Selectman Andy Campbell, Third Selectman Jamie Cosgrove and State Rep. Lonnie Reed marched up Main St., before taking their places on the reviewing stand. 

While they listened, a young girl, determination in her step, walked among the flags. 

When the Sandy storm came and its winds uprooted the flags, folks came by to replant them in the ground. Someone always seemed ready to keep the flags upright, even in the snow. 

First Selectman DaRos, US Sen. Richard Blumenthal, US Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, State Rep. Reed, and State Sen. Ed Meyer were among those attending the initial field of flags event .

The Second Company Governor’s Foot Guard, which is headquartered in Branford, was also present at both events.

“Seeing all of those flags so meticulously placed, row upon row, knowing that each represents a serviceman or woman whose life has been lost and whose loved ones will grieve forever, it breaks your heart and makes you want to do more to help veterans and their families,” Reed said.

According to Branford resident Chip Stakes Viel, the First Congregational Church put its name in the waiting list and found out two years ago that a Saturday in October would be Branford’s day for the display.

National Guard member Christy Johnson was among those reciting the roll call for those Connecticut soldiers who lost their lives in the war. After each name was read a Marine corporal struck a bell two times.

The Rev. Charles Woody of St. Stephen’s AME Zion Church sang ​“America the Beautiful” – ​“that left me teary-eyed,” says Viel – and his now-signature ​“Amazing Grace.”

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