The Wilton Memorial Day volunteer parade committee is hard at work planning the 2025 Memorial Day Parade, which is planned for Monday, May 26 at 10 a.m. The committee chair is Jim Newton and this year’s theme will be “Honor Their Sacrifice”. The parade and parade committee are independent of the town and receive no municipal funds, relying on private donations to pay the parade expenses like bagpipers, porta-johns, AV equipment, wreaths and flags.
Donations can be made to Memorial Day Fund, P. O. Box 75, Wilton, CT 06897.
Memorial Day activities start with the Pancake Breakfast sponsored by the Wilton Kiwanis at the Wilton Congregational Church, and end with the Memorial Service at Hillside Cemetery.
This year’s keynote speaker will be Marine Corps veteran Robert Wilby. The honorary parade Grand Marshal will be Alex Ruskewicz, an Army veteran who is being honored posthumously.*
The committee has issued the call for parade participants. Any groups interested in marching in the parade should email Coleen Amero to receive the registration forms. Participants need to provide proof of insurance to march, and registration forms are due by Saturday, May 17.
The committee also needs volunteers with convertible cars who would like to drive a veteran or honoree in the parade. Anyone interested should email Coleen Amero to receive the proper forms.
American Legion Post 86 will place flags on the graves of veterans in all Wilton cemeteries. To make sure a veteran grave receives a flag email the Post.
The Parade Committee is also seeking the names of Veterans who have passed away since last year’s parade (June 2024-May 2025) so that they can be honored during this years’ Memorial Service at Hillside Cemetery. Send names, dates of birth and death, and branch of service to Jeff Turner via email.
Finally, anyone who has served at least one day on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces since Dec. 7, 1941 is eligible to join the American Legion. The Wilton American Legion Post is actively seeking any new members who have served and have moved to Wilton. Visit the Post 86 Legion website to fill out an application or reach out via email for more information.
Committee organizers would also like to remind the public that Memorial Day is a day to remember service members who have passed on, whether in service or afterwards. They emphasize that it is a day to remember rather than celebrate.
*Editor’s note: The original article that was submitted for publication has been updated to clarify that the person who was named Grand Marshal is being honored posthumously.