The route for today's Memorial Day parade was lined with spectators paying their respects to the men and women who fought for, and died for, the nation. But some veterans are concerned that the day has become just another holiday for too many people.
Its not all about lighting up grills, said Don Hazzard, who served in Vietnam from 1968-1970 and is now is the commander of American Legion Post 86 in Wilton,.Its about taking a step back and remembering. Hazzard added that he did not know how or when this feeling changed, but said the attendance at the town's parade seemed lower this year than in previous years.
Mike Lindberg, who gave the keynote address at a ceremony a Hillside Cemetery follwing the parade, spoke about about honoring and remembering veterans on Memorial Day. Lindberg, who served in the Marines and was a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, said he believes people do not do take the time to do so as much as they did in the past.
Taking part in the parade were many organizations including the Treblemakers of Wilton, Wiltons Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Wilton Community Emergency Response, as well as the fire and police departments. The Wilton Wahoos swimming team, the local little league, softball league, and lacrosse league, as well as many Boy and Girl Scout troops were represented in the parade.
Dennis Sutton, who served in the Marines during Vietnam, agree with Lindberg and Hazzard that people should honor the day as it was meant to and said that seeing Wilton resident Shalini Madaras, whose son Nick was killed in Iraq, is what the day shopuld be all about. Sutton said, I just know what it means to me, refusing to give an opinion on why some people celebrate the day differently.
Carl Sell went to Korea twice the first time from 1946-1948 as an engineer, and then again from 1950-1951 as a member of a railway operating battalion and said he enjoys marching in the parade every year said, You have to recognize what a great country we have".
Click here to follow Daily Voice and receive free news updates.
