Branford Veterans Memorial Day Parade

Branford Parades on Memorial Day: 1) 8am Stony Creek; 2)9:15am Naval;3) 10am Main Parade Town green
The Branford Veterans Parade Committee is pleased to announce the selection of Branford resident and United States Air Force Veteran Lt. Col. Peter Brainerd as parade marshal for its Monday 27, 2013 main annual Memorial Day Parade with services starting at 10am on the Town green with parade step-off shortly thereafter.  The Lt. Col joined the Air force in 1954 and received his basic training at Samson AFB and upon graduation was assigned to O'Hara AFB Air Defense Command unit.  A further 3 year assignment was to RAF Wethersfield, Essex, U.K.  Upon return to the U.S. he joined the Reserve Recovery Squadron in New Haven/Westover AFB.  In 1963, as SSGT, he received a direct commission to 1st Lt.via President J.F.Kennedy's Outstanding enlisted Promotion Program.   Since then until retirement in 1992 he was assigned to AFB's at Dow Field, Otis, Denver, Kirtland, Hanscomb in jobs consisting of vehicle maintenance, supply and logistics, disaster preparedness, chemical, nuclear and biological warfare.  The Lt. Col. and his wife, Elaine, live in Stony Creek and have four children and six grandchildren.  Mr. Brainerd serves as president of Brainerd Garage, Inc., located in Stony Creek, where he works with his son Stu. He is also president of the Squaw Brook Company.  In addition , the Lt. Col. has also served as president of the Stony Creek Association and on the Town of Branford Sewer Authority; he is an active member of the American Legion in Branford and a familiar moderator of the annual Stony Creek Memorial Day Parade which takes place at 8am the same day starting at the flagpole with a march to the cemetery led by him and the Stony Creek veterans and by the Stony Creek Fife and Drum Corps for services and the annual reading of the veterans names interred in the cemetery.  The main parade step-off shortly after the services on the green and march west on Main Street to North Harbor Street and return to the town green for review.  U.S. Army Captain Vincent Giordano will be the master of ceremonies.  Invocation and benediction will be presented by Reverend Bill Keane, Senior Minister, of the First Baptist Church of Branford with additional readings provided by Chaplain Emeritus Grant Briggs of the American Legion Post # 83.  Many bands and fife and drum units will participate along with scout units, floats, cars, fire department units, and police units.  New this year will be the recently formed St. Mary School Fife and Drum Corps unit.  In the event of rain ceremonies will be held at Branford High School at 10am.  All military Veterans who would like to march are asked to fall-in with the American Legion/VFW units.  Sergeant Major Brain Miniter, U.S. Army, will be the unit marching aid to Lt. Col. Brainerd.  Between the above mentioned parades will be the Naval parade starting with services at 9:15am at the Hubbard Bridge(by Sansone's Farm on So. Montowses St., 700 yards south of the Armory) led by the U.S. Naval Navy Veteran Dennis Flanigan with music provided by the Branford High School Band.  Lia Whitten solist will sing the Naval Hymn at this memorial parade service and as well as the National Anthem at the main parade.  After the ceremonies on the bridge the units will then march to the green with music, again, provided by the BHS Band.  See you all at the parade!