Memorial Day is, most importantly, a day to remember the sacrifices that members of all U.S. military services have made for our freedoms and rights as Americans. Wilton has weekend activities planned to commemorate and memorialize our heroes as well as festivities for residents to enjoy during the long weekend. GOOD Morning Wilton has your definitive guide to everything what’s going on when for Memorial Day in Wilton.
Memorial Day Parade
Monday, May 25, 10 a.m.
The 2015 Wilton Memorial Day Parade theme is “Honor and Remember.” Led by Grand Marshall George Voss, veteran of the U. S. Navy, the parade begins at 21 River Rd. and proceeds through Wilton Center, past the Veterans Memorial Green, Old Town Hall, and the Wilton Congregational Church, and it will end up at Hillside Cemetery. Living and deceased veterans will be honored through speeches, music and song. This year’s Chaplain will be the Rev. Dr. Arnold I. Thomas of the Wilton Congregational Church and the keynote speaker will be Navy veteran Jack Majeski, managing director of Wilton CERT.
Parade participants are asked to be at the staging area at 9 a.m..
Wilton Village Market Annual Hot Dog Sale
Friday, May 22-Monday, May 25
The Village Market will again feature its traditional weekend-long Boar’s Head hot dog sale in a tent outside the store (108 Ridgefield Rd.) from Friday-Monday. The dogs remain $.50 a piece and veterans can have one for free!
Wilton Rotary Club: Open Arts and Crafts Show
Saturday, May 23, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Visit the 25th Annual Wilton Rotary Club Open Arts and Crafts Show at the Wilton Town Green 10 a.m.-4 p.m.. With 40 vendors offering a large variety of Arts and Crafts items, the yearly show is always an opportunity to discover new artists and beautiful handmade items. No admission fee for buyers.
Wilton Education Foundation’s ‘Get Smart for Wilton 5K’
Sunday, May 24, 9 a.m. (8 a.m. registration)
The annual Get Smart for Wilton 5K, hosted by the Wilton Education Foundation (WEF), gives residents an exciting opportunity to come together in a healthy, camaraderie-filled, high energy environment, while giving back to the schools.
All skill levels and ages are eligible to enter. At stake this year are $100-, $75- and $50- prizes for the top three overall men and women finalists. In addition, commemorative medals will be awarded to all student finishers. Following the race, there will be an awards ceremony to round out this fun family event. All proceeds raised will be donated to Wilton’s four public schools in the form of technology, music and the arts, and staff development grants.
The entry fee for the Get Smart for Wilton 5K is $25. Pre-registered racers will receive a T-shirt. The 5K kicks off at the Wilton High School track, with race-day registration starts at 8 a.m., and the race starts promptly at 9 a.m.. Pre-registration is recommended and will take place on Friday, May 22 at Comstock Community Center from 9:30-11 a.m. and 5:30-6:30 p.m.. Entry forms can be downloaded from the WEF website.
Pancake Breakfast
Monday, May 25, 8-10:30 a.m.
A 35-year tradition, the Pancake Breakfast takes place at the Wilton Congregational Church (70 Ridgefield Rd.), and starts the day’s festivities. Enjoy pancakes, sausages, blueberries and coffee, all served to you by the men and women of the Wilton Kiwanis Club, and the WHS Key Club members, all in their distinctive yellow aprons.
Wilton YMCA: Open House
Monday, May 25, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
The Wilton Family YMCA (404 Danbury Rd.)will hold its annual Memorial Day Open House, opening its entire facility free to the public. The community is invited to come in to take a swim in the 50-meter outdoor pool, get some sun at Kiwanis Park’s pond and beach, play in the children’s outdoor splash pool, work out in the fitness center, shoot some baskets in the gym and climb on the outdoor playgrounds.
A special membership offer will also be available that day. Please check in at the front desk. For more information on membership, contact Y membership director, Michelle Wishna, by calling 203.762.8384, ext 222, via email.
Kick for Nick’s ‘Nick Madaras Memorial Day Soccer Challenge’
Monday, May 25, 11:30 a.m.
The 9th Annual Nick Madaras Memorial Day Challenge is a free soccer event that honors America’s fallen heroes, in the name of one of those fallen soldiers from Wilton.
Growing up in Wilton, Nick Madaras was an avid soccer player, coach, and referee. He enlisted in the Army after graduating from WHS, and while home on leave during the summer of 2006, Nick told his family about all the Iraqi children he saw playing soccer. If balls were scarce, he saw them playing with tin cans. Nick thought if he collected balls to give to the children, his gift would be a way to connect through a shared love of soccer despite the atrocities of war. He never got the chance–on Sept. 3, 2006, Nick was killed in Iraq. He was only 19 years old.
Wilton’s Ken Dartley, a veteran of the Korean War, heard about Nick’s unrealized dream. With the Madaras family’s blessing, he placed a net in Wilton’s town center, with the intention of collecting some soccer balls. Instead, hundreds of balls were donated, which U.S. soldiers then distributed to children in Iraq. Kick for Nick was born. Every single ball included the handwritten inscription “PFC Nick Madaras” as a reminder of who had inspired the gift of kindness and camaraderie.
Wilton residents Andrew and Carole Allers had also heard of Nick’s love of soccer and wanted to support Kick for Nick in a different way. They created the Nick Madaras Memorial Day Challenge. Now in its ninth year, the event features three teams in round-robin play. One team is Allers’ Ancient Warriors, a men’s team in the over-40 division of a statewide soccer league, with many players who are Wilton dads. The second team is made up of Soccer Extreme coaches, who oversee Wilton’s travel soccer program. The third team is made up of Nick’s high school teammates, affectionately called Wilton Blue.
The match takes place on Kristine Lilly Field, (Wilton High School) immediately following Wilton’s Memorial Day parade. Admission is free.
As a tribute to Nick, attendees are asked to bring a soccer ball to place in the collection net alongside Lilly Field. Each ball donor will receive a free raffle ticket. All raffle sales will be donated to Kick for Nick. Raffle prizes include memorabilia, soccer equipment, tickets to professional matches, and gift certificates from local soccer camps and academies. The referees officiating the matches are donating their time. All the proceeds from the food and drink sales will be donated to Kick For Nick, courtesy of Tavern on 7. Griffin King, a Wilton High School student, will sing the national anthem. Big Daddy T will DJ the event. Sponsors of the event include Tavern on 7, the Ancient Warriors, Kristine Lilly Soccer Academy, Soccer and Rugby, and Wilton Sport and Fitness.