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The day was sunny and warm and Wiltonians turned out in force for the town’s annual Memorial Day parade.
With a celebratory mix of events, including an early morning pancake breakfast, a Village Market hot dog stand, honking fire trucks, and an annual ceremony at Hillside Cemetery, the parade set the tone of a traditional patriotic holiday and the somber remembrance that comes with a day steeped in tradition.
“It is a day of pride, but also a day of sadness,” a message from the American Legion said earlier this year.
“Honor and Remember” was the theme for this year’s parade, which ran from River Road to Hillside Cemetery and included representatives from more than 50 Wilton organizations.
The parade committee this year was again headed up by Marine Corps veteran Ray Tobiassen, who has worked on organizing the event for many years.
The grand marshal was George Voss, a naval veteran who landed on Okinawa, and the keynote speaker was Jack Majesky, known by many as the leader of Wilton CERT, who is also a Korean War veteran.
All of the costs associated with the Memorial Day parade are covered by private donations, and no town funds are used for the event.
Costs for the day include hiring the bagpipers and purchasing banners and flags. Each year, the committee places flags on the 500 military graves in Wilton.
Donations are encouraged. They may be addressed to the Wilton Memorial Day Parade Committee, P.O. Box 75, Wilton CT 06897.