Veterans Day, VIII (Hartford again)

Hartford, CT

Veterans Day, VII

New Milford, CT

Veterans Day, VI

New Milford, CT

Wednesday evening there were some very different Veterans Day activities on the Village Green of New Milford. The VFW Ladies Auxiliary's Candlelight for a Veteran campaign set out luminaries around the green, each with a veteran's name.

At the same time the Roger Sherman Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution staged a ceremony at the newly restored Civil War Memorial on the Green.

Veterans Day, V

Hartford, CT

Veterans Day, IV

Hartford, CT

Often I find more interest in what goes on before the parade, as groups line up, practice, and sometimes put up with interminable waiting. This parade, held last Sunday, was a big one in terms of participants. It took about two and half hours for all the marchers to pass the reviewing stand in downtown Hartford. But the spectator crowds were sparse, more people marching that watching.

Marching bands often go in for splendid, elaborate uniforms, but the group in the next picture had about the lowest tech outfits you could imagine. Black pants, gray sweatshirt, purple beret. What you see on the float behind the band members is a fighter jet engine manufactured by Pratt & Whitney, a local company.

Hooker Day Parade, I

Hartford, CT

No, it's not what you think. The parade is in honor of Thomas Hooker,  the leader of the settlers of Hartford, Connecticut's state capital. The parade was first held in 1991, was discontinued in 2001, and then revived in 2008 by a local business association. This year's parade celebrates Hartford's 375th anniversary. That's Hartford's mayor, Pedro Segarra, above, portraying Rev. Hooker. The marchers show a mix of pilgrim/colonial and Halloween themes.

Hartford, CT

Retired Fireman

Shelton, CT

He was participating in a Veterans Day ceremony.

Re-enactors

Waterbury, CT

Veterans Day, IV (11/11/09)

Shelton, CT

Ceremony, the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.



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