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Veterans’ Day Parade Expanded To Include All CT Soldiers

HARTFORD — This year, veterans from every one of Connecticut’s 169 towns and cities are invited to participate in the upcoming MetroHartford Veterans’ Day Parade. The second annual event will be held on Saturday, November 10, and will march through downtown Hartford.

“We are expanding this parade into a statewide event after receiving many compliments from veterans and other residents from throughout Connecticut,” explains Brigadier General (Ret.) George A. Demers, the veterans recruitment coordinator for the parade. “Last year, we invited only veterans’ groups and individuals from the region’s 29 towns in the first region-wide salute to servicemen and women in almost a decade, and more than 1,400 people took part. This year, we want to hear from every veteran in the state and get them involved.”

Starting at 10 am, marchers, vehicles, and floats will follow a 1.6-mile route through downtown Hartford. The parade will kick off from the corner of Capitol Avenue and Main Street and end at the State Capitol Building, culminating with military exhibits and personal memorabilia at the Capitol and in Bushnell Park. Featured will be three different military aircraft fly-overs, an 11 am Moment of Silence, and a ceremony following the parade.

The 2001 MetroHartford Veterans’ Day Parade is seeking active, retired, and honorably discharged members of the US Armed Forces including commissioned officers, warrant officers, and enlisted personnel of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, and Reserves. In addition to inviting veterans from throughout the state, up to two dozen non-military contingents, such as high school bands, drill teams, flag/rifle guards, historical reenactment groups, local patriotic commissions, or civic or community service organizations from each of the region’s 29 towns, also have been asked to march.

The parade is being organized by a collaboration of veterans’ groups, corporations, local municipalities, businesses, and civic organizations, and is administered by Greater Hartford Arts Council. Brigadier General I.J. Zembrzuski, Assistant Adjutant General-Army Commander, Connecticut National Guard, is the parade’s Logistics Chair.

WDRC radio’s Brad Davis, a Marine Corps veteran, is the parade’s Grand Marshal, and Gov and Mrs John Rowland are the Honorary Parade Grand Marshals.

Veterans’ groups and individual veterans from throughout Connecticut who want to participate in the MetroHartford Veterans’ Day Parade should call the Parade Information Line at 860-253-0499 as soon as possible.