Introduction
The Wethersfield Memorial Day Parade will take place Saturday, May 25, 2024 stepping off at 9:00 a.m., followed by a Memorial Day Ceremony at Village Cemetery immediately following the parade.
- This year's theme is the "80th Anniversary of D-Day."
- The Memorial Day committee is once again requesting financial contributions for the Memorial Day and Veterans Day activities this year. We need your support! Any contribution will be deeply appreciated. Information can be obtained from and contributions made to:
- Town of Wethersfield - Memorial Day Celebration
- c/o Parks and Recreation Department
- 505 Silas Deane Highway
- Wethersfield, CT 06109
The Memorial Day Committee would like to encourage all residents to demonstrate their support for the veterans and our country by displaying the American Flag during the weekend.
Contact Information
For more information about the event e-mail the committee at memorial.day@wethersfieldct.gov.
Deceased Veterans Honor Roll
Roll of Honor
Sponsorship / Support
The Memorial Day and Veterans Day Committees would like to thank the Wethersfield business community, organizations and volunteers who have given their support and who are helping to make this year's events memorable. If you would like to consider helping us in any manner, please contact the committee at memorial.day@wethersfieldct.gov.
Memorial Day Ceremonies
The Memorial Day Ceremony will take place in Village Cemetery immediately following the parade, approximately 10:30 a.m.
Memorial Day Address Speaker
In celebration of this year’s theme of “the 80th Anniversary of D-Day” we invited Tom Moore, the American Legion Department of Connecticut State Commander, to be our Memorial Day Speaker.
Tom is a Connecticut native, born in Stamford and raised in New Milford. He currently lives in Fairfield with his wife Nancy.
Tom enlisted and started his military service in August 1983. He completed basic combat training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and then graduated as a Commander’s Graduate at Fort Huachuca, Arizona as an interrogator. Tom then qualified as a Russian linguist from the Presidio of Monterey, California.
From California Tom was sent to Ansbach, West Germany, where he was detached for duty along the Czechoslovakian border as liaison with the West German military, customs and law enforcement agencies and the US military.
Upon competition of his military service, Tom went to work for the US Postal Service which he retired from after 27 years.
As a member of the American Legion for 31 years, he has served at the Post, District and Department level in various positions as an officer and a committee Chairman, culminating in his election as Commander in July 2023.
Parade Marshals
This year's parade marshals are Anthony Martino and Doug Shipman.
Anthony (Tony) Martino
Anthony (Tony) Martino was born on September 24, 1947, and grew up in Hartford. He was part of the first graduating class of South Catholic High School in 1965.
Tony was a member of the 103d Fighter Group, CT Air National Guard from September 1, 1966 to September 1, 1991. He started his military career with Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. After basic training he went to Fort Lee Virginia to attend Army Quartermaster Cooking School. From Fort Lee he went to Westover Air Force Base to finish his active-duty training in the Westover Hospital Kitchen.
After completing his six months of training Tony returned to Bradley Air National Guard Base and was assigned to the 103d Combat Support Squadron Food Service Section. In addition to cooking, he took on the responsibility of performing the section’s administrative function. In October 1974 Tony was selected by his commander to be the Unit’s Airman of the Month. In April 1980 Tony went to the Air National Guard Academy of Military Service, at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base in Knoxville, Tennessee where he completed the Reserve Office Training Course and was Commissioned a Second Lieutenant on June 5, 1980. Upon his return from Tennessee, he was assigned the duty as Administrative Officer for the 103rd Combat Support Squadron with the additional duty of Food Service Officer and Mortuary Officer.
Five years later when the 103d Services Flight was formed he was made its Commander. This put him in charge of Food Service; Billeting; Mortuary Affairs and Moral & Welfare Services.
Tony participated in many deployments. He and his airmen oversaw support functions for several 9th Air Force Exercises in Savannah Georgia, as well as Honolulu Hawaii, Alpena Michigan and Volk Field Wisconsin. He also taught courses at the Air Guard Training Center in McGhee Tyson, Tennessee and was a member of an Air National Guard Center Computer Board at Andrews Air Force Base.
His military commendations include: Air Force Presidential Unit Citation; (2) Air Force Commendation Medals; (2) Air Force Achievement Medals; Air Force Longevity Service Award; State of Connecticut Medal of Merit and State of Connecticut Long Service Medal for 25 Years of Service.
Tony worked as a manager for Travelers in the group field insurance sales administration before coming to work for the Town of Wethersfield in 1992. He worked for the Town as an operations analyst until his retirement in 2011. Tony then went on to serve on Wethersfield Town Council for 6 years (2013-2019) serving as deputy mayor for the last two years.
Tony moved to Wethersfield in 1978 with his wife and raised both of his kids in town. Tony currently serves on EDIC and Redevelopment Agency and is a proud member of UNICO, Knights of Columbus and the Incarnation Men’s Club.
Doug Shipman
Doug Shipman was born on October 2, 1959, and grew up in Glastonbury, Connecticut. He is descended from some of the earliest settlers of Windsor, Wethersfield and Glastonbury (John Mason, Matthew Grant, John Hollister and Stephen Shipman). This family history and his love of reading fostered his life-long interest in history and the military. Shipman graduated from Glastonbury High School in 1977 and attended Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a BA in Politics and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Regular Army Infantry in 1981.
Shipman received his Infantry Officer Basic training at Fort Benning, GA, and graduated from Army Airborne and Ranger schools before his first assignment as a rifle platoon leader with the 3-39th Infantry in the 9th Division at Fort Lewis, WA. He served in positions of increasing responsibility culminating in promotion to captain and command of a 160-man infantry rifle company with the 4th-23rd Infantry, before resigning his active-duty commission and joining the Army Reserves in 1986.
In the Reserves, Shipman served in Virginia’s 80th (Blue Ridge) Division while beginning his civilian career in history museums, first at Colonial Williamsburg and then the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, and completing an MA in Education at the College of William and Mary. During his time in Virginia, Shipman was promoted to major and then lieutenant colonel, and served a variety of key positions including command of the Division’s Drill Sergeant School, and graduated from the Army Command and General Staff College.
Shortly after the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, Shipman returned with his family to Connecticut to direct the Wethersfield Historical Society. In 2003 he joined the 98th (Iroquois) Division based in Rochester, NY, and soon deployed to support Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). While in Iraq he was promoted to the rank of colonel, and led teams to advise and train the Iraqi 3d Division and the Nineva Police Department in Mosul, Iraq.
Following his year-long tour in Iraq, Shipman returned to the 98th Division in 2005 to serve as Division Operations Officer (G-3) and later Chief of Staff of the 4,000-person Division which oversaw reserve training units from Maine to Puerto Rico. In 2009 he deployed once again to support the formation of a new advisory team, the Office of Program Manager – Facilities Security Forces, to help train Ministry of Interior security forces for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to protect the country’s critical infrastructure. There he worked closely with Saudi forces before concluding his two-year tour in Saudi Arabia and retiring at the rank of colonel in 2011.
During his 30-year career, Shipman earned numerous awards and citations, including the Army Parachute Badge, Ranger Tab, and Expert Infantryman’s Badge, as well as the Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Joint Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (4th Award), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Bronze Star Medal, and the Legion of Merit.
Shipman currently lives in Wethersfield, and directs the Windsor Historical Society. He has five children and two grandchildren.
Essay Contest
Silas Deane Middle School students participated in this year's Dan Camilliere Memorial Day essay contest themed "The 80th Anniversary of D-Day."
This year's winners are Adeena Aijaz, Collette Rochideau and Roje Williams.
2024 Winning Essays
memorial Day posters
This year's Memorial Day posters, which are displayed on the first floor of Town Hall, were created by 6th graders at Charles Wright Elementary School.
Flags of Appreciation
In recognition of all veterans, the GFWC/CT of Newington/Wethersfield Womens Club, a member of the General Federation of Womens Clubs, will be displaying a "Flags of Appreciation" to honor our veterans. A series of flags will be displayed in front of the Hurlburt-Dunham house at 212 Main Street during the weekend as a thank you to all our Veterans and members of our Armed Forces.
Information for Marchers for 2024
Marcher General Information
Line of March Wethersfield Memorial day parade 2024
Line of March
Parade Route 2024
The parade will step off at 9:00 a.m. and will head west on State Street to Nott Street then to Garden Street. It will then proceed down Garden Street, left onto Church Street and then right onto Main Street. The parade will continue on Main Street, then take a left back onto Garden Street to Broad Street. The Reviewing Stand will be on the Broad Street Green. We will then proceed north on Broad Street and cross Marsh Street to the Village Cemetery (behind First Church) for the cemetery services.
Parking 2024
Parking for spectators will be available throughout the parade route. Spectators may also park on any residential street not marked by "no parking" signs. Parking for marchers will be available at the Department of Motor Vehicle on State Street rear lot. The rear parking lot of the DMV will also be available for buses to park during the parade.
Street Closings 2024
Below is a list of street closings and approximate times they will be closed. (All times listed below are approximate.)
- State Street (entire length) — 8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
- Nott Street (from Garden Street to State Street) — 8:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
- Garden Street (from Nott Street to Church Street) — 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
- Church Street (from Garden Street to Main Street) — 9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
- Main Street (from Church Street to Garden Street) — 9:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
- Garden Street (from Main Street to Broad Street) — 9:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
- Broad Street (west side, from Garden Street north to Marsh Street) — 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
- Marsh Street (from Main Street to Broad Street) — 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
In addition, the following streets will be posted with temporary "No Parking" signs:
- State Street: From Hartford Avenue to the west driveway of DMV — both sides
- Nott Street: Around monument island at Hartford Avenue and Nott Street; from Hartford Avenue to Garden Street — both sides
- Garden Street: From Nott Street to Church Street — both sides
- Church Street: From Garden Street to Main Street — both sides
- Garden Street: From Main Street to Broad Street — both sides
- Broad Street: From Garden Street to Marsh Street — both sides
- Nott Street/State Street intersection
- Nott Street: Between State Street and Garden — both sides
- Main Street: From Church Street to Garden Street — both sides (Saturday morning only)
Rain Plans
In the event of inclement weather, the ceremonies will be moved indoors to Wethersfield High School and will begin at 10:00 a.m. The latest information will be announced on the Parks and Recreation Department program information line at (860) 721-2890. An announcement will also be posted in the announcements area of the home page of the town web site.