Madison Memorial Day Parade And Ceremony Schedule For May 30, 2011

By Edward R. Guenther, Memorial Day Parade Marshal

Here is the schedule for the 2011 Memorial Day Parade to be held in Madison, CT on 30 May 2011.

09:15 – 09:45: All marchers to assemble in the Scranton Memorial Parking lot and the Stop & Shop parking lots.  Our USO Girls, (Girl Scouts,) will be serving coffee & doughnuts for those desiring prior to the parade.

 10:00: Parade begins – marchers will proceed up Samson Rock Rd onto the Boston Post Road at the head of Main St.

 10:20: Assemble on the Town Green, in front of Memorial Town Hall at the four memorials for ceremonies.  The ceremonies taking place here will be: Invocation, Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, Wreath Laying, Flag Raising with the DHHS Band playing the National Anthem simultaneously, the various Speakers and the R.H. Brown Middle School Band playing God Bless America. This ceremony will end with a volley fired by the Firing Squad and the playing of “TAPS by members of the DHHS Band.

11:05:  Re-assemble marchers and march down the Post Rd. to West Cemetery.

11:25: Ceremonies at West Cemetery – Invocation, Flag Raising, DHHS Band playing the America The Beautiful, Wreath laying, (by members of the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and winners of the wreath making contests,) Combined Firing Squad and “TAPS”

11:45: Re-assemble marchers and march back along the Post Rd to the American Legion Hall on Bradley Road, where marchers will be dismissed. (Refreshments will be distributed to the marchers here at the Legion Hall.

12:00: American Legionnaires, VFW Members and Veterans will board a bus for a ride to West Wharf.

12:15: Ceremonies at West Wharf – Invocation, Wreath Laying, (upon the waters in honor of our Naval dead,) a volley by the Combined Firing Squad and “TAPS.”

12:30: American Legionnaires, VFW & Veterans to re-board bus for trip to VFW Hall on Lovers Lane for Flag Raising. Dismissal at 12:45

With the exception of the start time of precisely 10:00 a.m., all times are approximate.

In the event of rain, at 10:00, the parade will be canceled and the ceremonies adjourned to the American Legion Hall on Bradley Road to be performed at 10:30.   At the conclusion of the indoor ceremonies, members of the American Legion, the VFW and Veterans will go to the Green, West Cemetery and West Wharf to lay wreaths and raise the flags.  All interested persons are invited to attend any or all of these ceremonies.

Anyone wishing to participate in the Memorial Day parade, please call Ed Guenther at (203) 245-9423.