The Memorial Day parade in my town is a long-standing tradition for residents. I’ve been attending as long as I can remember, watching the parade from the same location on the east side of Main Street in front of Caplan’s supermarket. After I moved back to town in the mid-90s we moved to the sunny side of the street!
The parade route has always started at Dutton Park located at the northern end of North Main Street. Early newspaper articles listed a much longer route that involved a few hills. For any locals, in 1928 it was: Down Center, right on Colony, up Church, left on North Whittlesey, up Christian, up North Main Street to the Monument where speeches, singing, and a rifle volley would take place. The parade would then “countermarch” back down North Main Street, past the “new” state armory and back to the corner of Center Street. Whew! These days the parade start at Dutton Park and ends about 1-1/2 miles straight down the road to the WWI, WWII, and Korean War monuments in front of the town Hall.
The park was named for Arthur Henry Dutton, a 25 year old town resident and graduate of West Point, who was injured in May of 1864 at Bermuda Hundred, Virginia during the Civil War and died from his injuries 10 days later. The Arthur H. Dutton G.A.R. (Grand Army Republic) Post 36 was created not long after the end of the Civil War for veterans, not unlike Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and American Legion organizations. The land for the park was donated to the post by a town resident and in 1904 the post turned the park over to the town to be used as a park forever.
The park contains a Civil War cannon pointing south, a stone listing the 24 young men who died during the Civil War, and the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. This monument was conceived 1885, dedicated in 1902 and unveiled in 1911. It is topped with a life sized minute man holding a rifle and is inscribed with the battles the members of the Grand Army served.
100 years after the idea for the Soldiers and Sailors Monument came to be, another monument was dedicated. That would be our town’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial. This monument was designed and created by Wallingford resident and Vietnam veteran, Ken Polanski. It was dedicated on November 11, 1985. A very nice article about the monument can be found in our Wallingford Magazine. When I saw the date, I realized, I was at the dedication! It’s a really good article so I hope you read it!
This year’s guest speaker at our event was David Flood, a Vietnam Veteran. It was chilling to hear him talk about his time in Vietnam. Ken Polanski, the monument creator, was there as well. Mr. Flood is the father of an acquaintance so it was a treat to run into her and her adorable son, whom I’ve only seen in pictures on Facebook.
Once the ceremony was over, my husband and I hustled to our friend’s house along the route to enjoy the parade and indulge in the delicious food she serves to her guests. We see family, friends, and “once a year” friends at her house. We enjoy watching the parade and clapping for everyone who walks by – especially the little kids! Some are not sure of what’s going on, and others are very into it!
The parade always ends with the fire trucks. We decided it’s because if there’s a fire, they can get away quickly!
As I sit here, writing of Memorial Day, I pause to thank all of those brave men and women who died for our freedom. May we continue to remember them throughout the year.
Thoughts From The Passenger Seat 