William F. Vornkahl III died Friday. He was 93 years old.
Westporters knew — and loved — him as “Bill.”
His other nickname was “Mr. Memorial Day.” For 54 years — ever since 1970 — he organized, orchestrated and led Westport’s annual parade.
It was an enormous undertaking. The moving parts — the marchers, the floats, the route, the ceremony on Veterans Green — were many, and daunting.
But it was a labor of love.
Bill Vornkahl was many things: a Korean War veteran, member of the Westport Veterans Council, volunteer firefighter, Little League coach, member of Staples High School football’s sideline crew.
He was a proud veteran, and an equally proud Westporter. He will be deeply and lovingly missed.
Bill Vornkahl, at last year’s Memorial Day parade. (Photo/Ted Horowitz)
Visitation is set for this Thursday (February 1, 4 to 8 p.m., Harding Funeral Home). Bill’s funeral is Friday (February 2, 11 a.m., St. Paul Church, Easton Road).
In 2018, “06880” honored Bill Vornkahl as our Unsung Hero. Here is that story:
We do it with one of the town’s most popular and beloved events of the year: a fun, wonderful and wide-ranging parade, followed by a solemn yet uplifting ceremony across from Town Hall.
It’s a huge undertaking. Hundreds of town employees and volunteers pitch in to make it all work. It seems effortless, but it’s anything but.
None of it would happen, though, without the leadership of Bill Vornkahl.
This will be the Westporter’s 49th year at the helm. When he started in 1970, the parade may have included Spanish-American War veterans. Today there are only a few who served in World War II.
Vornhkahl — now 88 years old — is a Korean War vet. He spent 14 months on the island of Hokkaido, Japan, working as a high-speed radio operator in the 1st Cavalry Division.
In 2013, he was inducted into the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame.
Bill Vornkahl
Vornkahl has been a member of the Westport Veterans Council even longer than he’s run the parade: 57 years.
From 1996 to ’99 he was treasurer of Westport’s War Monument Committee, helping place memorials to various wars on Veterans Green.
He joined the Greens Farms Volunteer Fire Company in 1950. He’s served as secretary/treasurer of both that company and Saugatuck Hose Company #4, and as president of the Westport Volunteer Fire Company from 1973 to ’93.
He coached Little League for more than 20 years, and for over a decade was part of the Staples High School football sideline crew.
Vornkahl has dedicated his life to Westport. Of all he’s done, the Memorial Day parade is his special passion. He makes sure it all happens flawlessly.
In 2015, Bill Vornkahl and 3 Girl Scout Daisies recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
Of course, the one thing he can’t control is the weather. The last 2 years, predictions of rain have canceled the parade, and moved the ceremonies indoors.
You may have seen him inside Town Hall, introducing the color guard, bands and speakers.
This Monday, we all hope he’ll be outdoors on Veterans Green, doing the same.
He’ll be busy — as he has been every Memorial Day since 1970. So now is the best time to thank him for all he does.
Veterans usually don’t like honors. But Bill Vornkahl is a true Unsung Hero.
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In 2020, COVID canceled Westport’s Memorial Day parade.
But our town did not forget its veterans — or Bill Vornkahl. “06880” That day, “06880” reported:
This might have been a lonely Memorial Day for Bill Vornkahl.
As “06880” reported this morning, the 90-year-old Korean War veteran recently lost his wife of 65 years.
And this year — for the first time in the 50 years he has organized Westport’s annual parade and tribute to fallen service members — the entire event was canceled, due to COVID.
But his family arranged a socially distanced cookout in the driveway of his Cross Highway home.
And in mid-morning — just like every year at Town Hall — Vornkahl heard “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Taps.”
Nick Rossi sings the national anthem.
The national anthem was sung stirringly by Nick Rossi. The 2019 Staples High School graduate — now a student at Boston College — is a veteran of Veteran’s Green. He played and sang at last year’s ceremony.
The mournful brass notes were sounded by Sam Atlas. The 2018 Staples grad is a trumpet major at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where she plays in the orchestra, wind ensemble and chamber groups.
It was a fitting tribute for the man who is Westport’s “Mr. Memorial Day.” And he responded as any soldier would:
(Photos/Janine Scotti)
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It was a Bill Vornkahl tradition to close every Memorial Day ceremony with “It Is The Soldier,” a poem by Charles H. Province. “06880” is honored to post this, in honor of “Mr. Memorial Day,” Bill Vornkahl.
It is the soldier, not the minister
Who has given us freedom of religion.It is the soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us freedom of press.It is the soldier, not the poet
Who has given us freedom of speech.It is the soldier, not the campus organizer
Who has given us freedom to protest.It is the soldier, not the lawyer
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.It is the soldier, not the politician
Who has given us the right to vote.It is the soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.
We will not run a candidate for president in 2024. Instead, we are trying to get regular folks elected at local and state levels who want to work together with grace and tolerance, advocate for compromise and civility, and want democracy reform.
