Vets Day Parade Sunday: Will You Be There?

Veterans organizations in Branford are hoping this Sunday’s Veterans Day Parade will bring large crowds to honor the country’s military men and women. Sadly, that hasn’t been the case in recent years.

If attendance doesn’t increase this year, it could be the last Veterans Day Parade in Branford —- marking an end to an annual tradition that began in the 1950s. 

“Compared to Memorial Day, Veterans Day doesn’t have nearly as many residents watching it,” said Bill O’Brien, chairman of the town’s Veterans Day Parade Committee. 

O’Brien said members of the VFW and American Legion have been disappointed with the meager support for the parade over the past eight to 10 years. The committee discussed not having a Veterans Day Parade this year, but they decided to reach out to the public first to see if attendance improves.

Elliott Hastings, Commander of the VFW Post 12106, will give the address at this Sunday’s ceremonies. ​“The parade is very important. It reminds people of the sacrifices the veterans made,” Hastings told the Eagle. ​“They spent years of their life in the military, and many went to war and a lot of them never made it back. …And it’s also important to remember the ones who didn’t go to war — they did their time in the military and they deserve credit.”

Hastings, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Vietnam during the war, marches in the parade every year. ​“A lot of people haven’t been showing up for the Veterans Day Parades the last few years,” he said. ​“This is going to be the deciding factor this year if it’s worth having the parades, depending on how many spectators come out,” Hastings said.

It’s not just the veterans who have noticed the smaller crowds.

“Even our marching units have told us it’s disparaging marching along Main Street to a sparse crowd,” O’Brien said. ​“Memorial Day draws many more people along the whole route, especially in the town center where it starts.” Here is the Memorial Day parade in 2012.

Branford isn’t the only town that has been thinking about cancelling their parade and having a service instead. Hartford announced over the summer they would not hold their parade this year, partly because of poor attendance, but also due to the city’s financial problems.

The vets are wondering why the November parade isn’t well attended.

“Everybody is very busy with all their daily activities and we understand that” said O’Brien. ​“And there’s a lot more diversions to view a parade in November then there is in May.” He said the Memorial Day Parade is held on a Monday holiday when there isn’t as much competition, compared to the Veterans Day Parade, which is held on a Sunday when there are family dinners, local youth sports, and NFL football games on television.

Sometimes weather is the culprit.

The past two Memorial Day parades in Branford were cancelled because of rain but the services were moved to the Branford High School gymnasium. ​“People told me they enjoyed the services there,” O’Brien said.

The two holidays have two different objectives.

Memorial Day commemorates military men and women who died while serving their country. Veterans Day, which is observed on Nov. 11, is a day to honor all military men and women — from the youngest to the eldest, regardless of when or where they served.

Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day to mark the end of World War I, which occurred Nov. 11, 1918. It became a national holiday in 1938, and was ​“dedicated to the cause of world peace.” In 1954, Congress changed the name to Veterans Day to honor all veterans.

Parade Route

This year, the Veterans Day Parade will begin with ceremonies Sunday, Nov. 5, at 1 p.m. on the Town Green, instead of at the Cenotaph behind Town Hall as in previous years. The parade will begin at 1:30 p.m. heading west on Main Street to North Harbor Street and returning to the Green.

There will be six bands and fife and drum corps including the Stony Creek Fife & Drum Corps, the Second Company Governors Foot Guard, the Branford High School Marching Band, Totoket Ancient Fife & Drum Corps and the St Mary’s School Fife & Drum Corps. The Branford Town Band will remain on the Green and play a variety of military songs while the parade is in process.

U.S. Army Capt. Vincent Giordano will serve as Master of Ceremonies at the services, and First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove will be one of the speakers.

The parade will include a float provided by the Iwo Jima Survivors association, and several vehicles from the ​“Take a Vet Fishing” program. Town and state officials are expected to join the marchers.

Other participants include several Girl Scout and Brownie troops as well as Boy Scout and Cub Scout troops from Branford and North Branford; and members of the Knights of Columbus. There may be a large contingent of members of the Elk Lodges from different parts of the state who formerly participated in the Hartford parade.

There will also be several vintage automobiles among the marchers, and a number of fire companies and emergency vehicles.

The question is: Will you be there?
###