The Darien Monuments and Ceremonies Commission would like to thank all who participated in the Memorial Day Ceremony at Spring Grove Veteran’s Cemetery. These include the Rev. Monsignor Edward R Surwilo for his always inspiring Invocation and Benediction, and our Grand Marshal Patricia Parlette for her shining example of positive thinking and good cheer. Bruce Sargent for the loan of his pristine 1953 Packard Caribbean convertible to drive Ms. Parlette down the Post Road. Our speaker, Matt Pavia, delivered a wonderful speech which served to make relevant the sacrifices made by those who died for our country. Rhea Bhat, senior girl scout and Tate Hanson, senior patrol leader of the Boy Scouts presented the Gettysburg Address and General Logan’s Order No.
An announcement about traffic and parking regulations for Darien’s downtown Memorial Day Parade 2019 from Darien police:
(Darienite.com added the boldface.)
The Town of Darien Memorial Day Parade will be held on Monday, May 27, 2019. Traffic detours and restrictions will be in effect at some locations beginning at 8 a.m.
The Darien Police Department will be deploying additional assets to the parade. As a safety precaution, spectators are asked to avoid bringing backpacks or large bags to the event. Your Memorial Day Handbook 2019
— You can watch the parade and ceremony ONLINE, starting at 10 a.m., here. Marching Order, Program Agenda
About Grand Marshal Pat Parlette
Speaker Matt Pavia
Enjoy the Darien EMS-Post 53 Food Fair
The Route
The parade will step off from Goodwives Shopping Center on Old Kings Highway North at 10 a.m., proceeding up Brookside Road and turning left onto Post road.
Here’s who marches in what order and what takes place when in Darien’s 2019 Memorial Day Parade. Don’t forget: Darien EMS-Post 53’s Food Fair at Tilley Pond Park rounds out the day afterward. — an announcement from the Darien Monuments and Ceremonies Commission
Your Memorial Day Handbook 2019
— You can watch the parade and ceremony, starting at 10 a.m., here. Traffic and Parking
About Grand Marshal Pat Parlette
Speaker Matt Pavia
Enjoy the Darien EMS-Post 53 Food Fair
Parade Order
Organization
Notes (including officials names or leaders of various contingents)
Darien Police Dep’t Color Guard
Lieutenant John Lawlor
Grand Marshal Pat Parlette
State Representative District 141
Terrie Wood
State Representative District 147
Matt Blumenthal
Town of Darien- First Selectman
Jayme Stevenson
Town of Darien- Selectman
Pamela Sparkman
Town of Darien- Selectman
Kip Koons
Town of Darien- Selectman
Susan J. Marks
Town of Darien- Selectman
Marc Thorne
Darien High School Band
Jonathan Grauer, band director
VFW Post 6933 Color Guard
Jeff Calcott
VFW Post 6933
Lenny Hunter- Post Commander
American Legion Post 3
Commander Al Papp- ’67 Mustang & Jeep
Marine Corps League (Lock City Detachment)
Lock City Detachment- Iwo Jima Float
CT NATIONAL GUARD
Co. A- 192nd Engineer Battalion
Division 2 Leader
Lucy Berry
Veterans Affairs City of Bridgeport
Bus
Darien EMS–Post 53
5 vehicles
Darien Historical Society
Darien Historical Society: Whaleboat
Revolutionary War Actors participating
Darien Historical Society Cars
Bruce Sargent’s three Packards
Masonic Lodge- Ivanhoe #107
2 Vehicles plus float
Darien Chamber of Commerce
Darien Chamber of Commerce vehicle
John Breznen- Silverado pickup
Darien Chamber of Commerce vehicle
Tyler Roland- ‘SCARGO’
Community Fund of Darien
Harney-Pender-Keady Irish Arts Foundation
Girls will dance en-route
Darien Men’s Association
6 cars
PIVOT Ministries
2 Vans
Darien YMCA Gymnastics Team
John Schwartz
Darien Sail & Power Squadron
John Pedersen
Milford Volunteers Ancient Fife & Drum Corps
Noroton Heights Fire Department
Chief Shaun Volin
Noroton Heights Fire Department Apparatus
Division 3 Leader
Becky Siciliano
Darien School of Dance (YWCA)
Brigita Fulton
Girl Scouts of Connecticut
Sueann Schorr
Cub Scouts–Pack 56
Royle School
Cub Scouts–Pack 55
Ox Ridge School
Cub Scouts-Pack 155
Holmes School
Cub Scouts–Pack 161
Hindley School
Boy Scouts-Troop 35
Sabina Harris
Boy Scouts–Troop 53
Grant Evans
BSA Troop 219 (Girls)
Susie Flaherty
Atria Darien
Veterans
Antique Car (Williams ’28 Ford)
1928 Ford model A Roadster
Antique Car (Bealle)
Preston Bealle, 1964 Cadillac
At Home in Darien
At least two vehicles
Antique Car (Lefferts-’39 Jaguar)
1939 Jaguar SS-100 Roadster
Darien High School Girls Hockey Team
Jackie Cassidy
Maplewood at Darien
Meghan Kurtzman
Good Wife’s River Chapter D.A.R.
Beck Siciliano; Kathy Love
Fairfield County Police Pipes & Drums
Darien Fire Department Band
Darien Fire Department
Shane Smith
Darien Fire Department Auxiliary
Karen Smith
Darien Fire Department Apparatus
Division 4 Leader
Terry Gaffney
Auto- Jeep (Carper)
Meredith Carper
Darien Senior Activities Center
Joe Pankowski- 1930 Ford Model A Pickup; Ron Heinbaugh- 1931 Model A Coupe
Darien Lions Club
1947 Chrysler transporting Special Olympics
NYS Court Officers Pipes and Drums
Noroton Fire Department Band
Noroton Fire Department
John Hessmer
Noroton Fire Department Apparatus
Memorial Day Ceremony
Darien’s Monuments & Ceremonies Commission encourages all Parade participants and spectators to attend our Memorial Day commemorative ceremony which takes place in the Spring Grove Veterans Cemetery at parade’s end.
Patricia Parlette, a lifelong Darien resident and former member of the United States Cadet Nurse Corps, will serve as the Grand Marshal of the 2019 Darien Memorial Day Parade. — an announcement from the Darien Monuments and Ceremonies Commission
In the 1943 Memorial Day Parade, Pat led the Darien High School Band as the first female Drum Major, so serving as the 2019 Grand Marshal brings her full circle to the Parade 76 years later. Pat graduated from Darien High School in 1943, and from Greenwich Hospital as a registered nurse in 1946. Part of her training as a student nurse was spent at Yale where she learned special care for polio victims living in iron lungs. Although her father, Oliver served in WWI, Pat was personally introduced to the military when she worked at the Tripler Military Hospital in Hawaii caring for polio patients.
Darien EMS-Post 53 announced it will begin pre-selling admission tickets for its annual Memorial Day Food Fair outside select stores and restaurants starting May 10. — an announcement from Darien EMS-Post 53
“Make this annual Darien tradition a breeze when you arrive following the parade with your tickets in hand! No waiting in line. Get right to the fun!” said Gayle Close, co-chair of ticket sales for the Post 53 Food Fair. “Thanks to select local retailers, tickets to the Fair will be on sale over the next few weeks,” Close said.
