Berlin Veteran Is Named Grand Marshal for Connecticut Veterans Parade

Contributed photo: Lance Corporal Paul Segarra of Berlin.

The Connecticut Veterans Parade is calling on all state veterans and active military personnel to register to march on Nov. 8 in the 16th annual procession in Hartford.

The organization has announced the five grand marshals — including veteran Lance Corporal Paul Segarra of Berlin.

The parade will step off at 12:30 p.m. Nov. 8 near the Connecticut State Capitol Building in Hartford.

Any Connecticut resident who is an active, retired or honorably discharged member of the U.S. Armed Forces including commissioned officers, warrant officers and enlisted personnel of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard or Reserves is welcome to participate. Parade organizers also seek veterans groups, patriotic commissions, local municipalities, marching bands and drill teams from colleges, high and middle schools, and bagpipe & drum corps and fife & drum corps from across the state.

To register to march, visit www.CTVeteransParade.org or call the Parade Info Phone at 860-986-7254.

The other 2015 Parade Grand Marshals are:

• Brigadier Gen. (Retired) Joseph T. Perkins of Niantic, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and the Conn. Army National Guard;
• CSM Orlando A. Anderson of Manchester, a veteran of the U.S. Army, and current member of the Connecticut Army National Guard;
• Lt. Emily D. Trudeau of Cheshire, a veteran of the U.S. Navy;

• Lt. Col. (retired) Kristopher E. Perry of Storrs, U.S. Air Force/U.S. Navy.

Segarra ia 1979 graduate of New Britain High School. He enlisted in the Marine Corps January 1981. He attended boot camp in Paris Island, South Carolina and, after, was stationed in 29 Palm for military radio communications, also serving a year in Okinawa, Japan.

On Oct. 23, 1983, Segarra was on radio watch inside the U.S. compound in Beirut, Lebanon, as part of the Multinational Peacekeeping Forces stationed there during the Lebanese Civil War. That was the day at 6:20 a.m., a truck bomb struck the BLT headquarters, killing 241 U.S. Marines, sailors and soldiers. The aftermath was devastating for Segarra and other soldiers who survived and saw many of their buddies die. He was stationed there for another month, helping to restore the compound in the aftermath. Returning home to everyday life was tough for many of these soldiers and the support of friends, family and other servicemen and women was essential.

Nearly a year later, Segarra began what is now 31 years of work for Northeast Utilities/now Eversource, where he currently is a Supervisor of Field Operations, based in Waterbury. Today, he is involved with the Beirut Veterans Association, and is supportive to other veterans who return home after very difficult experiences that can cause Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Parade organizers also are seeking scores of volunteers to help with a variety of responsibilities, before and during the parade – volunteer applications are available at www.CTVeteransParade.org.

Special event features will include an 11:30 a.m. Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch to remember all veterans. The parade itself will step off at 12:30 p.m. and proceed through the Downtown streets. At 1:30 p.m., a Moment of Silence will be observed, as marchers stop in-place to remember soldiers who died while serving their country, followed minute later by a tolling of church bells and singing of the National Anthem. Parade volunteers will hand out American flags to spectators, and will sell 2015 commemorative parade lapel pins for $4 at booths on Atheneum Square near the Main Street reviewing stand.