On May 26th, the people in the town of Clinton participated in their annual Memorial Day parade. Memorial Day is a federal holiday made to honor the veterans who have passed away and takes place on the last Monday of May. The parade stepped off at 11am where organizations and officials from the town marched on route 1 to the lower green. After the ceremony at the green, marchers marched to town hall and dispersed.

Parade participants consisted of a police car, American Legion riders, American Legion color guard, U.S./state/Clinton color guard, service flags, firing squad, American Legion veterans, Sons of Legions, veteran cars, Morgan band, Ct National Guard marching unit, riderless horses (two soldier escorts), Naval Submarine School Silver Dolphins rifle drill team, Naval Submarine School sailors, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Eliot Band, Youth civic organizations, Clinton Volunteer Fire Department color guard, Clinton Volunteer Fire Department marches, Fire Trucks, Ambulance, and a Rescue Vehicle.

During the ceremony at the green The Methodaries singing group sang the National Anthem, members of the Morgan chorus sung “This Land; America,”

“I think the memorial day parade is a great way to bring the town together and singing was a great representation of Morgan,” said Peyton Vece who was one of the students to sing with the Morgan chorus.

The welcoming address was given by Carrie Allen; Chairman of the town council. Additionally a precision rifle drill exhibition was presented by the Naval Submarine School Silver Dolphins Rifle Drill Team, and the Morgan school band performed a musical tribute to military services with the piece Armed Forces on parade arrangement, Members of U.S. Navy Submarine School in Groton lead the Color Guard; Boy Scouts were the service flag Color Guard, and Marine Derek Torrellas and Navy veteran Bob Hansen led the firing squad.

Before Memorial Day, boy scouts and girl scouts placed flags at veterans graves in the cemeteries throughout town. Wreaths were laid by Bryan Voelker, Jack Schierban, Sheila McKinley-Bell, Renee Shefsick, Micheal Shove, Dennis Donovan, and members of the Clinton Police and Fire Departments. Taps were played at these cemeteries by trumpet players, Cora Dunham, Dominic Larabee, Peter Fortin-Roth, and Quintin Vece, from the Morgan Band.

“It was nice to finally be able to play it and be able to contribute to the overall ceremony,” said Cora Dunham when asked about playing taps at the green.

The parade was organized by American Legion members in Clinton and run by Joseph Diedrich. The towns’ celebration and memory of the veterans occurs annually on Memorial Day, so the people of Clinton can show their appreciation towards the veterans who served the country.