Ridgefield Press
MEMORIAL DAY: Who will march in the parade?

May 9, 2008

The Memorial Day Parade will march down Main Street on  Monday, May 26, but organizers are anxiously waiting to hear back from many of the groups invited to participate.

“So far we’ve got six bands to participate this year. I hope we have some people to march to those bands,” said American Legion Commander Robert Tulipani.

“I sent out 55 to 60 invitations to the people to join the parade this year, to honor those veterans who’ve given their lives or who have served in the past, or are serving now, and to date I’ve received 11 responses.”

Mr. Tulipani said he’d written all the groups that usually march — scouts, youth sports leagues, baton twirlers, nursery schools, civic organizations.

“I haven’t heard from 46 groups. The time is growing short,” Mr. Tulipani said.

The extra invitations went to groups who hadn’t marched before — or recently, anyway — but had expressed an interest in joining the parade.

“They said ‘I’ll get right back to you.’ I haven’t heard from any of them,” Mr. Tulipani said.

“It’s kind of discouraging, you get all this work done and don’t get any response.”

He wondered if the fact that the town is also planning a July 5 parade as part of its 300th anniversary celebrations might have drained off some of the interest in marching on Memorial Day.

“July fifth is pretty well squared away. We’ve got 21 floats and nine bands,” he said. “But Memorial Day is first.”

Mr. Tulipani said urged any non-commercial groups interested in marching on Memorial Day to get in touch with him at 438-3890.