Monday, May 27, is Memorial Day, a day to remember and honor the dedicated members of the U.S. military who gave their lives in service of protecting American freedom and defending Democracy, and to commemorate all who served and are now gone. 

Various weekend activities are planned around Wilton to commemorate these heroes along with events for residents to take part in during the long weekend.

GOOD Morning Wilton is your definitive guide to everything that’s happening over Memorial Day Weekend in Wilton. Below, first you’ll find details on the Memorial Day Parade as well as background on the Wilton residents being honored. That’s followed by a schedule of events for the whole weekend.

Memorial Day Parade and Remembrance Ceremony: Everything You Need to Know

As they graciously do each year, the Wilton Memorial Day Parade Committee invites all Wilton families and guests to the Memorial Day Parade and Remembrance Ceremony on Monday, May 27.

Marching in his year’s parade — with the theme “Honor Their Sacrifice” — will be veterans, bagpipers, military vehicles, antique cars, emergency vehicles, dignitaries, Scout troops, the Wilton High School band, and local organizations and sports teams.

The parade starts at 21 River Rd. at 10 a.m. and proceeds through Wilton Center. Marchers will slow to salute the flags at the American Legion Post and the Veterans Memorial Green, and then make their way up Old Ridgefield Rd. to Ridgefield Rd. to Hillside Cemetery (165 Ridgefield Rd.) for a Memorial Service that is expected to start around 11 a.m.

The Memorial Service will begin with opening remarks from Parade Committee Chairman Jim Newton, followed by the National Anthem played by the WHS Band.

Wilton First Selectman Toni Boucher will read the Town Proclamation and then this year’s Grand Marshal Don Hazzard, a US Navy veteran of the Vietnam War, will speak.

Don Hazzard will be the Grand Marshal of the 2024 Memorial Day Parade. Credit: contributed

In 1968, Hazzard volunteered for a three-year enlistment in the Seabees of the US Navy and was sent to Gulfport, MS for bootcamp, then to Davisville, RI for Seabee Heavy Equipment School, and finally, because Seabees are responsible for their own security, to Camp Lejeune, NC, where he was trained by the Marines in basic infantry tactics, weapons, and survival procedures.

Hazzard served in Vietnam with Mobile Construction Battalion 1 from December 1969 through August 1970. His first duty station was the massive Marine Corps base at Phu Bai in the northern I Corps area, where he was involved in building airstrips, bridges and even an asphalt road.

He was ordered to Red Beach, Danang, and then volunteered for a detachment to Rach Soi, located in the Mekong Delta, a fire support base for the Navy Seals and Brown Water Navy (River Rats). Hazzard was awarded the Vietnam Service Ribbon, the Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, the Navy Expert Rifle Badge and the FMF Combat Badge.

Don and his wife, Charmaine, lived in Wilton for 40 years. He owned and operated a successful refuse business for 20 years and spent 40 years working as superintendent of the Riding Club until retiring in 2022. He is a 35-year member of the Wilton American Legion and was Commander for 10 years. He and his wife now split their time between Florida and Danbury, and have one son, a daughter, and two grandchildren.

Paul Niche is the 2024 Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony Keynote Speaker. Credit: contributed

This year’s Keynote Speaker is Paul Niche, a 9-year Army Veteran and the current Commander of the Wilton Legion Post. After attending St. Bonaventure University through ROTC and graduating in 1979, Niche was commissioned in the Army and sent to Ft. Benning, GA for Basic Infantry Training. He qualified for Parachute School and Pathfinder School, so in 1980 he was assigned to the 7th Infantry Division at Ft. Ord, CA, where he was stationed for four years, first as a platoon leader and then as a company commander with rank of captain.

In 1984 Niche was sent to Korea for one year as the assistant deputy commander to a general in charge of everything non-tactical. He went to Australia for joint training with the Australian Army, and then in 1985 to Ft. Benning, where he served as the Battalion Adjutant in the School Brigade and rose to Company Commander in a training unit until being honorably discharged in 1988.

Niche qualified with both pistol and rifle and received the Army Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Army Overseas Ribbon, the Army Parachute Badge, and the Army Pathfinder Ribbon.

Niche has lived in Wilton for 30 years and has been the Commander of the Legion Post for the past three years. He and his wife have a son and a daughter.

WHS students Koko Layne and Ellis Nichols will then sing “America the Beautiful” and “God Bless America” followed by a wreath laying and reading the names of Wilton veterans who died this past year. Rev. Jessica Jones of Wilton Presbyterian Church will give the final benediction and bagpiper Drew Kennedy will play “Amazing Grace” and “Taps.”

If inclement weather forces cancellation of the parade, the remembrance ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m. at Wilton Congregational Church (70 Ridgefield Rd.). An announcement will be made on the Town of Wilton’s website and through the town’s emergency email alert system. GOOD Morning Wilton will also post any notice.

[Editor’s note: Instructions for parade marchers can be found in the weekend schedule below.]

The all-volunteer parade committee receives no municipal funds and instead rely on private donations to pay for parade expenses like banners, bagpipers, porta-johns, wreaths and flags. Each year, the committee places flags on over 500 military graves in Wilton. Anyone who would like to donate can mail checks, made out to the “Memorial Day Parade Fund,” to Memorial Day 2024 Parade Fund, P.O. Box 75, Wilton CT 06897.

Weekend Schedule

Friday, May 24

  • 11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Village Market will hold its Annual Boar’s Head Hotdog Cookout. Stop by the tent in the Village Market parking lot (108 Old Ridgefield Rd.), for hotdogs and drinks for only $0.50 each from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Veterans eat for free.
  • 4-6 p.m.: Wilton Education Foundation 5K t-shirt and race bib pickup at Comstock Community Center (180 School Rd.) for participants of Sunday’s race.

Saturday, May 25

  • 11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Village Market will hold its Annual Boar’s Head Hotdog Cookout. Stop by the tent in the Village Market parking lot (108 Old Ridgefield Rd.), for hotdogs and drinks for only $0.50 each from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Veterans eat for free.

Sunday, May 26

  • 8:30 a.m.:  The Wilton Education Foundation (WEF) will once again hold its annual Get Smart for Wilton 5K at the Wilton High School track. Runners or walkers of all levels and ages are invited to participate. All proceeds benefit the Wilton Public Schools. This family-friendly charity event is a chip-timed race on a USATF-certified course that starts and ends at the WHS track. This year this is also a virtual event format for runners to run on their own. Price: $40 race fee plus $4.30 signup fee 
    • Registration: Register for the 5K on WEF’s website. 
    • *Pre-registered participants receive a free t-shirt (while supplies last).  
    • Fees: May 1-23 Adults $40; 13 and under $25
    • Race-Day Registration: May 24-26 Adults $45; 13 and under $25
    • Virtual Run Option (no t-shirt): $25
    • All 13 and under finishers get a College Creamery treat at the end! (available for purchase for others)
    • + Cash Prizes for top finishers!
  • 11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Village Market will hold its Annual Boar’s Head Hotdog Cookout. Stop by the tent in the Village Market parking lot (108 Old Ridgefield Rd.), for hotdogs and drinks for only $0.50 each from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Veterans eat for free.

Monday, May 27 — Memorial Day

  • 8-10:30 a.m.: The Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast is held at the Wilton Congregational Church (70 Ridgefield Rd.) from 8-10:30 a.m. The Kiwanis Memorial Day Breakfast is rain or shine. The cost is $15 for adults, $8 for kids, and children under age 5 eat for free; a family maximum is set at $ 50.
  • 9:30 a.m.: River Rd. will be closed to traffic. People planning on marching should gather at the back of the Kimco (Starbucks) shopping center parking lot (21 River Rd.). Everyone needs to register and sign in.
  • 9:45 a.m.: Ridgefield Rd. at Drum Hill Rd. and Belden Hill Rd. will be closed to traffic.
  • 10 a.m.: The Memorial Day Parade begins from 21 River Rd. and then proceeds through Wilton Center. This year’s parade theme is “Honor Their Sacrifice.”There will be veterans, bagpipers, military vehicles, antique cars, emergency vehicles, dignitaries, Scout troops, the Wilton High School band, and local organizations and sports teams marching. They will slow march and salute the flags at the American Legion Post and the Veterans Memorial Green, and then make their way up Ridgefield Rd. to Hillside Cemetery (165 Ridgefield Rd.) for a Memorial Service that is expected to start around 11 a.m.
  • 11 a.m.: As the parade ends, Dial-A-Ride vans will be stationed at the Wilton Congregational Church to take seniors and those with disabilities to the Hillside ceremony. There also will be a pickup area at the Wilton Congregational Church for parents picking up their children and for those not continuing to Hillside. The church will be giving out water.
  • 11 a.m.: The Memorial Service Program will begin at Hillside Cemetery (165 Ridgefield Rd.)
  • 11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Village Market will hold its Annual Boar’s Head Hotdog Cookout. Stop by the tent in the Village Market parking lot (108 Old Ridgefield Rd.), for hotdogs and drinks for only $0.50 each from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Veterans eat for free. The store is open on Monday, May 27 from 7 a.m.-5 p.m..