Greenwich plans full weekend of Memorial Day observances
GREENWICH — Residents will have many opportunities to pay tribute to the men and women of the armed forces who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to the country at events around Greenwich during the long Memorial Day weekend.
The first event of the weekend will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the pocket park across from the Greenwich Historical Society on Strickland Road with the Cos Cob Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10112.
Parking is available in the Mianus River Boat and Yacht Club. The ceremony will include remarks from post leaders and a memorial wreath will be placed.
Two parades will also take place Sunday. At 2 p.m., the Byram Veterans Association will hold its annual parade and ceremony. It will step off from the association’s hall and travel to Byram Shubert Library.
A second parade will take place at 5 p.m. in Glenville, ending at the Glenville Volunteer Fire Company headquarters with a ceremony and wreath-laying to follow.
Several more events are scheduled for Memorial Day on Monday, starting with the American Legion Post 29’s ceremony at Indian Harbor Yacht Club in downtown Greenwich on Steamboat Road.
The ceremony will start at 8 a.m. dockside and will include a posting of the colors by the Greenwich Police Department’s honor guard, an invocation from Ukrainian minister Ihor Midzak, a rifle salute by the Byram Vets Honor Guard, a wreathlaying in Greenwich Harbor and the playing of “Taps.” Town resident and former New York Lt. Gov. Betsy McCaughey will be the keynote speaker.
“This moving annual tribute is indeed a ceremony to behold and will no doubt be remembered by all who participate and attend,” the American Legion Post said in a statement.
The annual Old Greenwich parade, which is put together by the Sound Beach Volunteer Fire Company, will begin at 10 a.m. The parade will go up Sound Beach Avenue toward Binney Park, and a ceremony will take place once the parade is complete.
“This is always very, very nice,” First Selectman Fred Camillo said during this week’s Board of Selectmen meeting while urging residents to attend the Memorial Day events.
Another ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. in Byram at the Eugene Merlot Memorial Park’s Memorial Grove. The ceremony is organized by the Byram Veterans Association. Camillo called it “a beautiful ceremony.”
At 1 p.m., the Chickahominy Reunion Association will hold its annual ceremony at the veterans memorial at Hamilton Avenue School. And the final event of the day is planned for 5 p.m. at the Belle Haven Club.