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Joan Sumpter was one of thousands of people who came out to watch today's Memorial Day Parade. "It's just such a beautiful day," Sumpter said as she joyfully waved her flag at the policemen passing by. "I'm here to be patriotic and be out with the crowds. I marched in this parade when I was in school. I just love it."
It seemed as if all of Norwalk had spilled onto East Avenue, from Van Zant Street to the Norwalk Green. The elderly sat in camp chairs with umbrellas and toddlers sat on their parents' shoulders and cheered on veterans of past and current wars, local dignataries, school bands, color guards, representatives from community associations and sporting teams.
The heart of the parade resided with the veterans who marched and rode in fancy vehicles, veterans like Fred Green, commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 603 who served in Vietnam and the Gulf. "This day is important because we honor all the ones that didn't make it back. The ones who made the ultimate sacrifice to maintain our freedom and liberty," Green said.
Matthew Ferguson, 26, a retired member of the infantry, returned last year from a tour of duty in Taji, Iraq. "Being here brings it all back. It's amazing to see everyone out here like this."
Ferguson marched with Adopt-a-Platoon, a national organization that sends supplies to troops overseas. Joanne Romano, head of the local chapter of Adopt-a-Platoon says the organization sent supplies like toiletries, sunscreen, and travel gear to Ferguson's brigade. "We've sent over 10,000 pounds of supplies," said Romano.
The message of the day was not lost on school children like Joshua Ampofo and Daniel Caragine, fourth graders at Naramake Elementary School. "We are celebrating the people who served this country and remembering the ones who died," said Joshua. "It must have been really tough," said Daniel.
Several groups marched in the parade with the message of peace. Young musicians from Talent Education Suzuki School marched in the parade wearing t-shirts that read "Nurtured by Love." Vic Chariott, a 91-year old veteran, questionned the purpose of war. Chariott served in World War II as a tail gunner in the Pacific. "I fought against the Japanese but now half the things in my house are Japanese. Why have wars when we can make up again? There a just a lot of people dead."
Roy Benedict, a World War II veteran and head of American Legion Post 12, remembered the history of Memorial Day. "During the civil war, this day was started to decorate the graves of the dead from all the wars."
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