Branford Memorial Day Parade Cancelled, Activities Moved Indoors: UPDATE

UPDATE: The Branford Memorial Day Parade has been canceled and ceremonies are being moved to the Branford High School gymnasium beginning at 10:00 am. They will conclude at 10:30 am.

Original post:

By Bill O'Brien
Parade Chairman

BRANFORD, CT - The annual Branford Memorial Day Parade will be held on Monday May 30 starting on the Town Green on Main St.

Ceremonies will begin at 10:00 am and the parade steps off at 10:30 am. The program on the Green includes an opening prayer, National Anthem, the Gettysburg Address, musical selections and two students at Walsh Intermediate School who will read their short essays entitled, "What Memorial Day Means to Me". Marching Units will proceed West on Main St to North Harbor St and return to the Green.

The parade marshal and speaker for this year's parade will be First Sergeant Paul Hannaway USMC. He enlisted in the Marines in 1997 and during his tour of duty he participated in Operations Desert Fox, Desert Thunder and Southern Watch along with two separate deployments for Operation Iraqi Freedom in Baghdad.

In 2011 he deployed with the 2nd Battalion 6th Marines to Helmand Province Afghanistan. He is currently serving at the US Marine Corps Reserve Center on Woodward Ave in New Haven and resides in Branford with his wife and three children.