Memorial Day Activities Outlined For West Hartford

WEST HARTFORD, CT — West Hartford officials are promoting alternative Memorial Day events in lieu of a traditional parade this year.

Since 1776, 236 residents gave the last full measure of devotion "defending America,: officials said.

"Each year, West Hartford takes great pride in celebrating Memorial Day," town officials said. "While the Memorial Day Parade has been canceled, the public is invited to take part in three opportunities to recognize this important holiday."

The parade was called off amid the coronavirus pandemic.

For 2021, the official Memorial Day ceremony will air at 10:30 a.m. on May 31, on West Hartford Community Interactive. The virtual ceremony is to feature West Hartford Police and Fire Department color guards, and performances by the Conard Solo Choir singing the National Anthem and Bennett Johnson, a Grade 8 student at King Philip Middle School, playing TAPS.

Mayor Shari Cantor will provide a special message, the Rev. Bob Knebel of the West Hartford United Methodist Church will give a prayer and Patrick Harrell, post commander of American Legion Hayes-Velhage Post 96, and a Marine Corps veteran, will deliver the keynote address.

The ceremony will conclude with a list of West Hartford veterans who have passed away since last Memorial Day. The names will scroll at the end of the program.

The ceremony will air on Comcast channel 5, Frontier channel 6098 and on YouTube.

In addition, the American Legion Hayes-Velhage Post 96 will hold a brief ceremony at the Veterans Memorial, located at the corner of North Main Street and Farmington Avenue, on May 31 at 10:30 a.m.

The ceremony will pay tribute to the late Joe Donahue, a West Hartford resident and author of the Connecticut Veterans Memorial book. The book is the result of Donahue’s research, which contains brief biographies of each person from West Hartford who gave his or her life while serving the country. Legion members will read the names of the first person to die in each of the wars and then ring the traditional bell toll.

The program will conclude with the last person who died from West Hartford, Lawrence Philippon.

The third opportunity for the public to recognize Memorial Day in West Hartford is to assist the American Legion and West Hartford scouts in placing American flags on the graves of 1,200 veterans at Fairview Cemetery. The event is slated for 8:30 a.m. on May 22. Participants must check in at the American Legion table outside the cemetery office. Participants will then be assigned a section of the cemetery to place flags.