Coronavirus: 'East Haven Proud' Motorcade Unites Community

EAST HAVEN, CT — Saturday was a beautiful blue-sky day in East Haven. And even more so for many, despite the troubled times, as hundreds of vehicles paraded across town as part of 'East Haven Proud.'

After East Haven town, police and fire officials participated in the Momauguin and Tuttle schools' teacher parades and then attended the Deer Run School's event at East Haven High School where teachers lined the driveway and greeted children and families as they picked up school lunches, they were moved and inspired.

As Mayor Joe Carfora said last week, those "events showed that our community has come together in true East Haven fashion."

Saturday, the town come together, albeit six feet apart, to celebrate its resiliency, strength and sense of community in its 'East Haven Proud' motorcade.

"Yesterday was a very inspiring and uplifting day for the people of East Haven who participated in the motorcade. It really shows how our community comes together during a crisis. I am so proud to be from East Haven and very proud to be your mayor. Although we all had to stay six feet apart, I felt the town came together yesterday in a great way," Carfora posted to Facebook.

Town Council Chairman Joe Deko said that the 'East Haven Proud' motorcade was a perfect example of how a community can come together."

"I am always proud to be from East Haven, but it was intensified yesterday. The amount of participation was heartwarming, from the almost 200 vehicles who drove in the motorcade, to everyone who greeted the motorcade as we drove by their houses or their viewpoint," Deko said.

Deko and Carfora thanked East Haven Police Sgt. Joe Mulhern "did a fantastic job and worked tirelessly to help coordinate the event, David McDermott Chevrolet for allowing us to use a convertible and provided the 'East Haven Proud USA Truck,' Gary Guglielmo and Mike Roy."

Joe Deko

"We couldn’t forget the other officers who escorted us through the streets as if they have done it many times before. Thank you to Mayor Carfora who allowed this amazing event to occur. I believe the motorcade is exactly what the town needed for lifting spirits of our community. It was a privilege to drive the convertible with the Mayor in it, and there were numerous times we had tears of joy while driving. Everyone did a great job at social distancing and we really appreciate that! Yesterday showed that we ARE East Haven STRONG!"