Kids & Family

Marchers Wanted for Annual Statewide Veterans Parade

The parade is slated for Sunday, Nov. 3.

Organizers of the 2013 Connecticut Veterans Parade are seeking U.S. veterans from every town and city in the state to sign up to march or ride in this year’s parade.

The 14th annual procession is scheduled to step off on Sunday, Nov. 3 at 12:30 p.m. near the state Capitol in Hartford. The parade will take place a week before the federal observance of Veterans Day.

The parade will process through the Downtown area.

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Last year, more than 3,500 people marched or rode in the Connecticut Veterans Parade, and organizers said that makes it the largest veterans parade in New England and one of the biggest salutes to veterans in the nation. The parade is designed to honor servicemen and women from all U.S. conflicts, and offer state residents the opportunity to express their appreciation in-person.

U.S. veterans are encouraged to register now to march or ride. Any Connecticut resident who is an active, retired or honorably discharged member 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 are welcome to participate. Parade organizers are also seeking veterans groups, patriotic commissions, local municipalities, marching bands and drill teams from colleges, high schools and middle schools, and bagpipe and drum corps and fife and drum corps from all over the state to march.

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The day will also feature a wreath-laying ceremony at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch at 11:30 a.m., one hour before the parade begins. 

At 1:30 p.m., parade marchers will stop in-place for a moment of silence in observance of service members who died while serving their country. 

Ceremonial cannon blasts will kick of the parade at 12:30 p.m., and they also will conclude the moment of silence, along with the tolling of church bells and the singing of the National Anthem. 

An roster of honorary marshals will be announced by the Connecticut Veterans Parade committee in October.

Parade organizers are seeking scores of volunteers to help with a variety of responsibilities, before and during the parade. 

The event is organized by a nonprofit collaboration of veterans’ groups, corporations, local municipalities, businesses and civic organizations. Many of the members of the Parade Planning Committee have been involved in the parade since its inception more than a decade ago. The Connecticut National Guard assists with the management of parade logistics, and the City of Hartford hosts the event.

For contact information, visit: http://ctveteransparade.org/.


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