Kenote Speech from Darien’s 2021 Memorial Day Ceremony

Darien Democrats Invited to March in the Memorial Day Parade

Memorial Day Parade Line of March and Ceremony Program Announced

Darien’s Memorial Day Parade Takes Place Monday, Some Traffic Restrictions Begin at 8 AM

Police Department to Mark 40th Anniversary of Officer Kenneth E. Bateman’s Death in the Line of Duty

Ceremonies Commission Names Darien’s 2021 Memorial Day Parade Grand Marshal, Keynote Speaker

Holidays

By DARIENITE.COM | May 31, 2021

Memorial Day 2021

By DARIENITE.COM | May 28, 2021

Memorial Day 2021

By DARIENITE.COM | May 28, 2021

Holidays

By DARIENITE.COM | May 25, 2021

Public Safety

By DARIENITE.COM | May 24, 2021

Darienites

By DARIENITE.COM | May 18, 2021

Sharad Samy, in his keynote speech at Darien’s Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, asked his listeners to remember what the red, white and blue of the U.S. flag stand for and to “Remember those who gave their lives for us today. “Remember that they were just like you and me,” he told the crowd of about 200 people at the veterans’ burial ground in Spring Grove Cemetery. “Remember that they gave what we all treasure the most — life — so that you and I can enjoy our great nation each and every day.” And he described several of them who were cut down in wars from the American Revolution to Vietnam. He explained the symbolism of the flag’s colors: “the red stands for heartiness and valor, the white stands for purity and innocence, and the blue stands for vigilance, perseverance and justice.

Are you a Democrat in town who would like to march in the Darien Memorial Day parade on Monday? The Darien Democratic Town Committee is inviting you to join in the town’s patriotic procession. “As many of you may recall, we did this in 2019 and it was a smashing success. We would love a good turnout to reflect our increased presence in town, so please join us,” DTC Chair David Bayne said in an announcement Thursday to his fellow Democrats. The parade is solely a patriotic event, not a political one (and both the parade rules and the Democratic Town Committee forbid “overt political signs or messaging” at the event.

The town Monuments and Ceremonies Commission released a list of marchers for the Memorial Day parade and the order that they’re marching in, as well as the program for the ceremony after the parade. At the bottom of this article is added the list of instructions given to parade marchers. Here’s the announcement:

Darien’s Memorial Day Parade, and our time-honored Commemorative Ceremony for those who gave their lives in service to our country will take place Monday, May 31. The Parade will start at 10 a.m. from the Goodwives Shopping Center, and proceed south [east] on the Post Road, ending at Spring Grove Veterans Cemetery, where our commemorative ceremony will take place immediately afterward. Grand Marshal Peter O. Kenyon, Commander, USNR (retired,) will open our ceremony.

The Darien Memorial Day Parade will start at 10 a.m., Monday, May 31, at Goodwives Shopping Center, go through downtown and end at Spring Grove Cemetery. Traffic detours and restrictions will be in effect at some locations as early as 8 a.m., Darien police said. The parade grand marshal will be Peter Kenyon, and Sharad Samy will deliver the Memorial Day speech after the parade at the Veterans Cemetery at Spring Grove Cemetery. The post-parade ceremony is expected to begin at 11:30 a.m.

At 12 noon, Darien Police will conclude the 40th anniversary observance of Officer Kenneth Bateman’s death in the line of duty. The observance takes place at Police Headquarters on Hecker Avenue, across the street from the Veterans Cemetery.

Kenneth E. Bateman Kenneth Bateman Barbara Bateman

On Memorial Day and the night before, Darien Police Department will hold a ceremony marking the death of a man in uniform, Darien Officer Kenneth E. Bateman Jr., shot and killed when he went to the scene of a burglary. “To solemnly remember the 40th anniversary of Officer Bateman’s death, the Darien Police Department will post and illuminate 40 candles in front of the Darien Police Department building commencing at sunset on Sunday, May 30, 2021,” Police Chief Donald Anderson said in a statement released Monday morning. “The candles will burn throughout the night into May 31, 2021 in honor of Officer Bateman and will be extinguished at noon on Memorial Day, when both the Connecticut and United States flags are again returned to full staff per the United States Flag Code and by Presidential proclamation.” Bateman was killed by one of the burglars robbing Duchess, Anderson said. “Although this heinous crime remains unsolved, many Darien officers and investigators, now over several generations, have diligently continued and furthered the investigation into his murder.

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Navy veteran Peter Kenyon will be the the grand marshal for Darien’s upcoming Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 31, and Sharad Samy will be the keynote speaker at the ceremony after the parade, the Monuments and Ceremonies Commission announced. The Memorial Day ceremony at the Veterans Cemetery in Spring Grove Cemetery is scheduled to take place at 11:30 a.m.
Parade Marshal: Peter Kenyon
From the announcement about the parade marshal:
Commander Peter Kenyon served on active duty in the Pacific from 1963 to 1966, aboard USS Bausell (destroyer DD-845.) While attached to the 7th Fleet they engaged in plane guard duty, naval gunfire support (shore bombardment), Search and Rescue operations, amphibious task force escort duty, Formosa Patrol, and Anit Submarine patrols. Pete qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer, a Command Duty Officer, Tactical Action Officer, Officer of the Deck (both Fleet Activity and Independent Steaming), CIC Watch Officer, and JOOD. His assignments included Electronics Officer, CIC Officer, Intelligence Officer, and Administrative Officer. After active duty, Pete served in the Navy Reserve service from 1966 to 1985, mainly in Convoy duty units, and with three short tours on reserve destroyers, and a final tour on the Naval War College Reserve Staff. Pete had 2 tours as a Commanding Officer (VTU and NCSO).