A look at the Memorial Day events
This weekend, thousands will gather to remember and honor those who protected and served the country and gave the ultimate sacrifice.
Here’s a look at the Memorial Day events in the Danbury area:
BRIDGEWATER
Bridgewater’s parade will begin at 8:20 a.m. Monday at the firehouse.
BROOKFIELD
The annual Brookfield Strawberry Festival will be held from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Sunday outside the Brookfield Museum.
The Memorial Day parade, which begins at Brookfield High School and ends at Center Elementary School, will begin at 2 p.m., according to the town’s website.
Strawberry shortcake and soft drinks will be sold to support the historical society’s future public programs, while Billy Michaels’ Jazz for Juniors band will perform.
Inside the museum will be an exhibit honoring the 44 Brookfield residents killed in combat since the Revolutionary War.
DANBURY
The city’s Memorial Day events begin Monday with a memorial service at 6:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Church, 370 Main St. A wreath placing ceremony will follow at 7:10 a.m.
The parade will begin down Main Street at 9:30 a.m. from the intersection of Rose Street. A bus will be leaving the parking lot behind the War Memorial Building in Rogers Park at 6 a.m. It will provide shuttle service for individuals to the memorial service and placing of the wreaths.
Following the parade, a ceremony will be held at the Rose Memorial to honor deceased veterans. All awards will be presented after the services.
On Monday morning, L.L. Bean staff will be at Wooster Cemetery to clear and clean the flush-to-theground grave markers of veterans. The public is invited to help and should register at www.LLBean.com/danbury.
KENT
The Kent Memorial parade will organize at the Kent Center School on Judd Avenue at 9 a.m. Monday for a 9:30 a.m. start.
In case of rain, the parade will be canceled. A ceremony will be held at the entrance of the school.
NEW FAIRFIELD
The New Fairfield Veterans Association is hosting a Memorial Day ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday at the Town Park.
A brief re-dedication ceremony will be held afterward at the New Fairfield Cemetery across from the Town Hall. There are 19 veterans buried there.
NEW MILFORD
The third annual “Who are You Carrying?” event will be at Harrybrooke Park at 10 a.m. on Sunday to benefit the park and Help Our Military Heroes.
The workout will include 500 push-ups, 500 sit-ups, 500 mountain climbers, 500 flutter kicks and 500 air squats.
Participants will wear a T-shirt with the name of a fallen hero on their back, that they carry with them every day, and will do their workout in that person’s honor. Event T-shirts will be available for the first 100 registrants.
The event honors fallen heroes, with one specific military hero as the event honoree, the late Petty Officer First Class Jason D. Lewis of Brookfield. Lewis, a 30-year-old Navy SEAL, was killed 11 years ago by an improvised explosive device during a combat mission in Baghdad. His mother, Jean Mariano of New Milford, will attend the event.
People can raise money by selling bracelets or becoming a sponsor. For more information, call the park at 860-799-6520.
There will also be two parades on Monday. The first will be held in Gaylordsville at 8 a.m. The New Milford parade starts at 10 a.m. in front of New Milford Public Library on the Village Green.
In case of rain, the ceremony will be held at the VFW hall on Avery Road at 10 a.m.
NEWTOWN
A ceremony will be held at VFW Post 308, 18 Tinkerfield Road (Freedom Defenders Way) at 11 a.m. Monday.
The ceremony honors men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
REDDING
The annual parade and ceremony will be held on Saturday rain or shine.
Participants will gather at 11:30 a.m. at the Redding Elementary School auditorium and the ceremony will start at noon. Parade step-off is at 12:15 p.m. and proceed to the Redding Green, for flag-raising and flower-placing ceremonies at the Memorial Stone. It is expected to end by 1 p.m.
RIDGEFIELD
Ridgefield's American Legion Post 78 is organizing the Memorial Day parade, carrying on the tradition that dates back to 1921.
The parade begins at 11:30 a.m. with opening remarks and a wreath-laying ceremony at the monument in front of Jesse Lee Church, including a military honors gun salute and the playing of taps. It ends at Ballard Park with a closing ceremony that includes short speeches by honored guests with patriotic music throughout the program.
King Lane will be a one-way street from 9:30 a.m. until the end of the parade.
ROXBURY
The parade will begin at 10 a.m. in front of the Roxbury Congregational Church, at 24 Church St.
SHERMAN
The parade in Sherman is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday. It starts at the intersection of Spring Lake Road and Route 39 North, traveling through the center of Sherman and ending at Veterans Field.
WASHINGTON
There are two parades scheduled for Monday.
New Preston’s Memorial Day parade starts at 1:30 p.m. in New Preston village. The parade in Washington will form at Washington Primary School at 2:15 p.m.