Specialist John Zsoldos, a 24-year-old Iraq War Veteran who returned home in October stopped multiple times along the Fairfield parade route to talk to older veterans and thank them for their service.
"Today is a day we need to be thankful for all the vets who served before I did, in World War II, Korea and Vietnam," said Zsoldos, who joined the Army in 2007. He served in the military police and is now training to be a police officer.
Around him, thousands of people marched in the annual Memorial Day parade through the center of Fairfield, while thousands more watched on a beautiful, sunny late spring day. Zsoldos was one of many young veterans in attendance, who were honored as part of the theme of the day, recognizing those who are serving in the current wars in the Iraq and Afghanistan.
The parade featured more than 2,000 Boy and Girl Scouts, many town officials, police officers and firefighters, Special Olympians, fife and drum groups, classic cars, Shriners in small cars, cancer survivors who will participate in the annual Connecticut Challenge bike race and many other groups. Simon Weldon (American Legion Post 74), Sidney Wilson (Post 143), Alvin Overton (DAV) and Milton Forstrom (9427) marshaled the parade. The chairman was Joseph Lebinski of Post 74.
"The parade went very smoothly, it was a beautiful, perfect day," said Betsy Browne, the town clerk and parade secretary.
Following the celebratory atmosphere of the parade, a somber mood was cast on the crowd of more than 500 who remained to watch the Memorial Day Service, featuring keynote speaker Retired Army Chaplin Col. Frank E. Wismer III. Now the vicar at Christ Episcopal Church in East Norwalk, Wismer served over 25 years in the military, including stints in Iraq, where he said Mass in Saddam Hussein's presidential palace.
Wismer said to remember that "service" is the key to the armed forces in America. He asked for those in attendance to remember "who we have brought here today in our hearts," and honor their service by giving of themselves.
"Today is not an adequate memorial for those who have died in the military. It should be more than a day filled with cookouts, a parade with bands and a speech by yours truly," Wismer said. "That is fitting, but it is not nearly enough."
"The most appropriate memorial for self sacrifice is self sacrifice. Give cheerful service to others in our community, nation and world. We should live our lives in a way that reflects the values that we hold dear," said Wismer.
Meanwhile, Zsoldos, originally from Monroe, was with his girlfriend, Jackie Mahony, of Fairfield, passing out fliers about a group that helps others follow Wismer's advice, A Project from the Heart. It is a Fairfield-based group of retired police wives and concerned Connecticut citizens that package and mail "we care" boxes to armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. They have sent over 5,000 packages since 2002 and are still collecting. For more information on the group, contact Miriam Zelenski ([email protected]) or Shirley Sambrook ([email protected]).
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