Planning has begun for Connecticut Veterans Parade

HARTFORD >> It’s never too early to start planning a statewide event to honor our nation’s veterans. All Connecticut veterans and active military personnel are invited to register now to march in New England’s largest veterans parade. The 17th annual Connecticut Veterans Parade will step off on Sunday, November 6 at 12:30 p.m. near the Connecticut State Capitol Building in Hartford. The procession will be held the Sunday before the federal observance of the holiday (Nov. 11) and two days before Election Day.

“With close to 3,000 marchers expected – almost all of them U.S. veterans – the Connecticut Veterans Parade is one of the biggest salutes to veterans in the nation,” explains Kristin Beth Ferris, the event’s coordinator. “We encourage Connecticut residents of all ages to take a few hours to come to our state’s Capital City, watch, cheer and say, ‘Thank You’ at this colorful meaningful event.” Ferris notes that in 2015, for the first time in many years, a military aircraft flew over the parade. Organizers are hoping to feature a flyover again this year.

Eligible to march are Connecticut residents who are an active, retired or honorably discharged members of the U.S. Armed Forces including commissioned officers, warrant officers and enlisted personnel of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard or Reserves. Also included will be veterans groups, patriotic commissions, local municipalities, marching bands and drill teams from colleges, high and middle schools, and bagpipe & drum corps and fife & drum corps from across the state. Sponsorship dollars are needed help to pay for the operations of the parade. Sponsors can include corporations, organizations, and individual residents who wish to make a contribution to the effort. Financial contributions to support the parade can be made on-line at www.CTVeteransParade.org. Checks may be written to “Connecticut Veterans Fund” and mailed to: Connecticut Veterans Fund, 1245 Farmington Avenue #338, West Hartford, CT 06107

To register to march in the November 6, 2016 Connecticut Veterans Parade or enter the Student Essay Contest, visit www.CTVeteransParade.org or call the Parade Info Phone at 860-986-7254. Facebook: Connecticut Veterans Parade, and Twitter: @CTVetsParade.