UPDATE: Memorial Day Ceremony Will Be in Darien Library, After Parade

Update 9:04 a.m.:

According to the Weather Channel website, as of 9 a.m., Monday, rain is 55 percent likely at 10 a.m. and 60 percent likely at 11 a.m., with only showers predicted, and nothing after noon. On Sunday night, thunderstorms were predicted, but not now.

Update, 8:48 a.m., Monday:

The Memorial Day ceremony will take place in Darien Library’s Community Room, First Selectman Jayme Stevenson announced at 8:38 a.m.:

The Memorial Day Ceremony (usually held in the Spring Grove Veterans Cemetery immediately following the

Parade today) will be held in the Darien Library Community Room. Our speaker, Brian O’Malley will be there and the service will be conducted as usual, but indoors and immediately after the Parade ends. 

Sunday night:

Rain or Shine, the Memorial Day Parade kicks off at 10 a.m., First Selectman Jayme Stevenson announced Sunday. But there’s an alternative, indoor location for the ceremony, which town officials will decide whether to use by 10 a.m. Monday:

In the event of rain, the Parade Committee and Monuments and Ceremonies Commission will decide by 10 a.m. tomorrow (Memorial Day) if the ceremony typically held in the Spring Grove Cemetery will be held in the Community Room at the Darien Library. The Darien Library has generously offered their space so the ceremony can go on in spite of the forecasted foul weather.

The parade itself will happen rain or shine.

According to the Weather Channel website, as of 11:30 p.m., Sunday, rain is 90 percent likely at 10 a.m. and 100 percent likely at 11 a.m., with thunderstorms predicted around 10 a.m.

Here’s the announcement, as previously published, about the grand marshal, Lenny Hunter:

Lenny Hunter, 67, will be Grand Marshal of 2016 Memorial Day Parade, the Monuments and Ceremonies Commission of the Town of Darien announced.

Hunter, one of eleven children was born in Stamford.  During the Vietnam War, five of the eight Hunter boys served; one in the Air Force and the other four in the Army.  Three were actually in Vietnam at the same time!

He joined the Army right after graduation from Stamford High School in 1967.

_________

— An announcement from the Darien Monuments & Ceremonies Commission

_________

After serving in the Army with the 578^th Signal Company in Vietnam from 1967-1968, Lenny returned to civilian life, and shortly found himself working at the Darien Post Office, where he stayed for 37 years, retiring in 2008.  He was a highly visible fixture at Corbin Drive, beloved by all who knew him.

Lenny is scheduled to be installed on Wednesday, May 11 as post commander of VFW Post 6933 in Darien.

_________

See also:

• Memorial Day Speaker: Brian O’Malley, Iraq/Afghan War Vet, West Point Grad

_________

It is believed that he will be their first African American post commander.  He has been a VFW member for over 30 years, along with his brothers, Henry, Larry, Donald, and Randy.

An avid bowler and horseshoe player, he holds several titles and has competed (and has several trophies to show for it!) on the national level with his bowling team.