New Canaan To Hold 2021 Memorial Day Parade

NEW CANAAN, CT — As coronavirus vaccines continue to roll out in New Canaan and across the state, the town will hold its traditional Memorial Day parade and ceremony this year.

Details regarding the events were announced Wednesday afternoon by town officials and the Howard M. Bossa and Peter C. Langenus Post 653 of theVeterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.

In an email Wednesday, First Selectman Kevin Moynihan cited the amount of residents who have received coronavirus vaccinations in New Canaan thus far as a reason the town could safely proceed with the event this year.

"New Canaan is leading the area and the state in vaccinations of our residents and workers in town businesses," Moynihan said to Patch, "including restaurants, educators and personal service providers, which is making New Canaan very safe."

Moynihan noted this is due the tremendous job the town health department has done running weekly vaccination clinics that serve hundreds of residents and workers each week, including 12-15 year-olds beginning Friday.

"We are confident that by Memorial Day," Moynihan said, "we will be able to run our traditional parade safely with thousands of marchers and parade watchers lining the streets, in a modified marching format and wearing masks when social distancing is not possible."

According to a news release, all residents are invited to attend the parade and ceremony, the latter of which will be held after the parade at Lakeview Cemetery. The parade's line of march will be announced May 27.

"Each year," the release reads, "we gather to remember with gratitude and honor the proud men and women who gave their lives while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces to protect and preserve a life of freedom for all Americans."

Boy scouts Jack Goetz, Ryan Krolikowski, Henry Pohle and Andrew Wilson, who led the veterans banner project in 2019, will serve as the parade's grand marshals.

The VFW Honored Unit will be town Health Director Jenifer Eielson and her health department team, town Medical Director David Reed and schools Medical Director Harrison Pierce, town officials said.

The parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the parking lot of St. Mark's Church on Oenoke Ridge Road.

Due to construction activity on lower Main Street, the traditional parade route will change this year. After proceeding down Oenoke Ridge to upper Main Street, past the Wayside Cross and past the firehouse and Town Hall, the parade route will turn right onto Cherry Street and then left onto South Avenue.

The route will continue down South Avenue to Harrison Avenue, then left onto Harrison until arriving at the entrance of Lakeview Cemetery, where parade marchers can disperse either north or south on lower Main Street.

Street parking will not be allowed on Harrison Avenue from 8 a.m. until the parade finishes.

In light of the ongoing coronavirus crisis, those watching the parade and those marching in it should wear masks when social distancing cannot be maintained, town officials said.