By John Kriz
On a spectacular late Spring day, hundreds gathered in town for the annual Memorial Day parade to remember and honor those who have fallen in defense of the nation, as well as all who have served, and their families.
Kicking off from St. Mark’s Church on Oenoke Ridge, New Canaan’s Exchange Club was in the lead, distributing flags to one and all along the parade route.
Many groups in town marched as well, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #653, with VFW Chaplain and Grand Marshal Brian Vanderheyden in the lead. Other groups in the parade included:
Town Officials and Clergy, the Town Band, Board of Education, Police Department, US Naval Sea Cadets Corps, Hannah Benedict Carter Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Girl Scouts, Brownies, Daisies and the Service Unit, Knights of Columbus, Boy Scouts & Cub Scouts, New Canaan EMS, Mount Kisco Scottish Bagpipers, New Canaan Fire Department and Vista Fire Department, CERT – Community Emergency Response Team, New Canaan High School Band, Knights of Columbus, New Canaan Baseball, New Canaan Softball, School of Rock, New Canaan Youth Rugby, New Canaan Beautification League, Staying Put in New Canaan, Planet New Canaan, New Canaan Mounted Troop, GetAbout, Waveny Lifecare Network, New Canaan Men’s Club, Caffeine & Carburetors, New Canaan Department of Public Works (DPW) and America 250th Planning Committee.
Along the parade route were people waving, many children and more than a few front yard BBQs.
The Fire Department’s aerial apparatus had its ladder extended with a large American Flag hanging from it.
The parade ended at Lakeview Cemetery, where various speeches were delivered and prayers offered.
First Selectman Dionna Carlson noted in her opening remarks that “today we come together to honor and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation — brave individuals who gave their lives to protect the freedoms we hold dear, both at home and around the world,” and that “residents of New Canaan have served and sacrificed in nearly every conflict our nation has faced.” She concluded by saying “while this day is an opportunity to gather with family and friends, it is above all a time of reverent remembrance for those who laid down their lives in defense of our country.”
Msgr. Robert Kinnally of St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Church in his prayer exhorted God to “give us hearts of gratitude for all that we have received. Because of the selfless gift of these heroes, inspire us to raise them to the dignity of the bravest of the brave.”
VFW Post Commander Mike McGlinn thanked all the people and groups who helped place 1300 flags on the graves of veterans buried in Lakeview Cemetery on Saturday, concluding with saying “the VFW believes nothing should stand in the way of remembering and paying honor to all veterans who have died in the service to our country. Their ultimate sacrifice must never be forgotten. We pledge to remember them every day, but especially on Memorial Day.”
All then joined in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, and the Town Band played the National Anthem.
VFW Chaplain Brian Vanderheyden, in his prayer, continued Commander McGlinn’s theme, saying “we remember and give thanks to both men and women of the United States military who have guarded this country with their lives. We especially honor those who lost their lives while defending this nation. Sacrifice is meaningless without remembrance.”
The guest speaker was Major Charles Paksi, who works in the investments business and is a professor of military silence at Yale University for ROTC cadets. A US Marine, he earned his airborne wings in 1992 and deployed to Somalia for Operation Restore Hope, transitioning to the Marine Corps Reserves and later to the New York Air National Guard. Following the September 11th attacks, he deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, conducting missions across the Middle East and Central Asia. He was commissioned in 2008 as an officer in the Connecticut Army National Guard, and was deployed again in 2010 in eastern Afghanistan, leading combat patrols. He is a Bronze Star recipient and lives in north Stamford with his wife Alexis and their four children.
“What is Memorial Day?” he asked the hundreds assembled. “Memorial Day is a holiday honoring those who have died while serving our country’s armed services. Very simple, very straightforward. They raised their hand. They took the oath. They’re going to defend your country — our country — and they died while doing it.” He cited the names of those from New Canaan who died in combat, as well as Gold Star families in the audience.
In particular, he spoke movingly of a friend and fellow Marine, Domingo Real, who died in combat in Somalia in 1993 at age 21. His friend took the toughest assignment, was wounded, but fought on, laying down cover fire for his comrades. “Thanks to Domingo’s actions,” his fellow Marines were able to locate enemy positions and neutralize them. “Domingo did his job because he loved the Marines he fought with” and that we need to “keep these warriors’ names alive.”
There then was a gun salute from the Sea Cadets, and Taps was sounded. The Town Band played the hymn ‘Abide With Me’.
After another prayer from Msgr. Kinnally, VFW Post Commander McGlinn cited the hundreds of thousands of men and women who have died defending freedom in our nation’s wars, solemnly concluding that “We can never forget any American service man or woman that was lost defending freedom around the world.”
John J Kriz is a 30+ year New Canaan resident. Opinions expressed are his own.
