Tag Archives: Memorial Day 2019

Pics Of The Day #770

Posted on May 27, 2019 | 3 comments

A Memorial Day salute (Photo/Carminei Picarello)

Stars and Stripes forever, on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge. (Photo/David Squires)

Doughboy at Veterans Green (Photo/Dan Woog)

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Posted in Downtown, Pic of the Day

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We Remember: Memorial Day 2019, Part 2

Posted on May 27, 2019 | 1 comment

The sun is still shining. The grills are still smoking. The holiday spirit lingers in Westport — especially after months of rain and cool weather.

As always, Memorial Day was a time of mixed emotions: a celebration of the country our military has always protected so well, and honors for those who gave their lives so we could have this celebration.

Here’s one more look at Memorial Day in Westport.

The Bedford and Coleytown Middle School bands combined this year. Hundreds of young musicians sounded great — and very together! (Photo/Sarah Tamm)

Bill Vornkahl directed the parade — as he has for the past 48 years. It’s not a Westport Memorial Day without him. (Photo/Carmine Picarello)

The reviewing stand. Grand Marshal Nick Zeoli is at far right. (Photo/Dan Woog)

World War II veteran and Grand Marshal Nick Zeoli — 96 years young — delivers the Memorial Day address. (Photo/Carmine Picarello)

Today’s theme was “Thank a Veteran.” These vets posed proudly … (Photo/Dan Woog)

… as did these 2 Navy veterans: from France (left) and the US. (Photo/Dan Woog)

Memorial Day fashion. (Photo/Carmine Picarello)

Staples High School senior Nick Rossi sings “America the Beautiful.” At the end of the ceremony, he played a mournful “Taps” on his trumpet. (Photo/Dan Woog)

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Posted in Children, People, Staples HS, Westport life

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We Remember: Memorial Day 2019, Part 1

Posted on May 27, 2019 | 6 comments

Today’s Memorial Day parade was the first in several years with beautiful weather.

Nearly everyone marched: police, firefighters, non-profit organizations, youth teams, Scouts, Suzuki violinists, a random pediatric dentist.

As usual — and as always deserved — the Y’s Men won the Best Float competition.

Here are a few scenes from today’s parade. More — plus images from the post-parade ceremony on Veterans Green  — will be posted later today.

The start of the route, on Riverside Avenue, was swimming with Westport YMCA Water Rats. (Photo/Jodi Harris)

It doesn’t get more classic than this. (Photo/Doris Ghitelman)

Alex Merton — almost 3 — is captivated by a fife and drum corps. (Photo/Fred Cantor)

The theme of the parade was “Thank a Veteran.” This vet received many thanks … (Photo/Beth Devoll)

… as did this veteran … (Photo/Doris Ghitelman)

… and this. (Photo/Doris Ghitelman)

Page Englehart gives the thumb’s up to a float honoring servicemenbers. Her son Williiam — a Staples High School 2014 graduate — is in the Marine Corps. (Photo/Anne Hardy)

Suzuki violinists played “Turkey in the Straw.” (Photo/Burton Stuttman)

A Myrtle Avenue home honors the holiday. (Photo/Dan Woog)

Police Chief Foti Koskinas greets a young fan on the parade route. (Photo/Marshall Kiev)

Patriot and noted artist Miggs Burroughs marches with the Westport flag — designed, for Westport’s 150th birthday in 1986, by himself. (Photo/Beth Devoll)

The red, white and blue was evident in flags … (Photo/Doris Ghitelman)

… and everywhere else. This is RTM member Andrew Colabella.

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Posted in Downtown, Organizations, People, Police, Westport life, YMCA

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We Remember …

Posted on May 27, 2019 | 3 comments

In the years following the Civil War, Americans began a springtime ritual of decorating the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers and flags.

That was the start of Decoration Day. Today we call it Memorial Day.

On Saturday, Boy Scouts with Troop 39 — and Troop 139, Westport’s first female Scout troop — continued the tradition.

They decorated the headstones and markers of scores of military members at 5 cemeteries: Greens Farms Congregational Church upper and lower; Assumption; Christ & Holy Trinity, and Willowbrook.

I saw them, as they finished at Christ & Holy Trinity cemetery on Kings Highway North. After they left, I visited those graves.

Some honored men killed in action, as far back as the Civil War.

Others led long lives, after service in the Civil War, Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, Korea and Vietnam.

The Boy Scouts remember them.

All of Westport should too.

(Cemetery photos/Dan Woog)

Thank you, Troops 39 and 139!

(Photo/Laurie Cizek Brannigan)

 

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Posted in History, Organizations

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