Avon Memorial Day Plans Set

Memorial Day is coming up and the Gildo T. Consolini VFW Avon Post 3272 has set its plans for its parades and observances.

As has been its solemn duty since 1946, it will begin Memorial Day at 7:30 a.m. by visiting the Avon cemeteries, placing wreaths, performing a brief service, and playing Taps in recognition and honor of all the departed veterans of Avon.

This year also marks the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII and the 70th anniversary of the chartering of the Gildo T. Consolini Avon VFW Post 3272.

The parade will step off at 11 a.m. from the parking lot of Sperry Park on Simsbury Road. The Avon VFW veterans and their color guard (along with all other veterans who would like to march) will lead the parade followed by the Avon Police and their color guard, the First Co. Governor’s Horse Guards led by Captain Christopher Miller, the Avon High School marching band, as well as the Avon Fire Department and their color guard.

Following this honored group will be the Avon Boy and Girl Scouts, Cubs, and Brownies. The parade will first stop at the East Avon Cemetery next to the Avon Congregational Church for a short memorial service to honor all fallen veterans. It will then proceed to Route 44 and turn right, concluding at the Veteran’s Memorial on the Town Green.

In addition, there will be a C-130 flyover by the 103rd Airlift Wing of the Connecticut Air National Guard during the parade.

At 11:30 a.m., a memorial service will be held at the Avon Veteran’s Memorial on the Town Green with Post Commander, Lee Wilson, veteran of Desert Storm, as master of ceremonies. The invocation will be offered by Navy Reservist and Chaplain Rev. Joseph Piccirillo, Pastor, Avon Memorial United Methodist Church.

After the presentation of the Memorial Wreath and Forget-me-Nots, Taps will be played by two members of the Avon High School band and the National Anthem will be sung by Rhapsody, an a Capella group from Avon High School.

This year’s keynote speaker will be WWII veteran George England, Avon Post Member. He will talk about meaning of Memorial Day and the history of the Avon Veterans Memorial.

The VFW Ladies Auxiliary will be on the Town Green with buddy poppies to distribute and selling bottles of water as a fundraiser for their many events that benefit local veterans and their families.

The War Memorial on the Town Green lists 719 veterans from Avon who served their country from the Mexican War to the Gulf War and separately honors 41 veterans who gave their lives in four wars.

Four new stones are being added to the memorial this coming year in order to have names of those Avon residents who served in the War on Terror that began on September 11, 2001.

Everyone is invited to participate in this traditional memorial event and observe with the VFW the true meaning of Memorial Day – a day in which we honor those who served their country in times of war and especially those who gave their lives to ensure the freedom and independence we now enjoy. By honoring those who lost their lives defending us, we preserve their memory, service and sacrifice.