PORTLAND — Nestled between morning and evening
thundershowers, the town of Portland turned out for what
First Selectwoman Susan S. Bransfield called “The best
Memorial Day parade to date.”
Between the deafening roar of the double Chinook helicopter
fly-over and the silence that accompanied the playing of
“Taps,” the American Legion Ormont Post No. 69 hosted a
poignant tribute to veterans.
Luckily for all who participated, the weather did cooperate,
which made for a lot of happy people.
“When I saw the sun come out, I was relieved. This is a
great parade,” said Sandy Harris, of Meriden, who was
there with her grandchildren to see her husband march as a
clown with the Shriners.
“The Shriners is a great organization. They do great
things and we’re here to support them,” Harris beamed.
Besides the Shriner clowns, the parade included the Portland
High School band, members of the fire and police departments
of Portland, Boy Scouts, Little League teams and a group
from YMCA Camp Ingersoll, who won first place in the annual
float contest.
For the first time, the parade boasted the Governor’s Foot
Guard. The guard wasn’t concerned about the weather — as
one member remarked, “Wherever we go, the sun shines.”
The Exchange Club of Portland delighted children by passing
out almost 800 flags along the Main Street parade route.
And Karen R. Johansmeyer, member of the East Hampton Fife
and Drum Corps, marched as Uncle Sam to bring recognition to
the fife corps in the area. Johansmeyer has been marching as
Uncle Sam since 2002.
As the parade ended, the green behind City Hall filled with
bands, scouts, Little Leaguers, firemen and their children
as people gathered for the dedication ceremony.
Twenty-three names were added the to Veterans Memorial wall
this year. Parade Marshal Major P. Tommy DeRing, U.S. Army,
also read the names of veterans who had passed away since
last Memorial Day in a moving tribute while the crowd sat in
silence.
DeRing had two “perpetual plaques” unveiled that will
hang in Town Hall and will “forever preserve the memory
and forever honor those from Portland who served our
country.”
The guest speaker this year was U.S. Army Sgt. Rob Walton,
of Portland, a Purple Heart recipient.
In his emotional speech, Walton said his understanding of
Memorial Day grew throughout his service to this country and
he encouraged people to not only thank a service member, but
to “thank their families as well.”
The Rev. James Reemts, from Zion Lutheran Church in
Portland, offered an invocation to start the ceremony. In
it, Reemts prayed for those who “do whatever was required
to protect those back home.”
To close the ceremony, Reemts offered a song as a
benediction. He sang “God Bless America” as a special
tribute to Richard G. Murphy, who was parade marshal for 20
years before passing away last year.
Ryan Murphy, who was watching the parade with his younger
brother, Devin, as well as his parents, said his family
comes to the parade every year.
The third-grader from Portland summed up the festivities by
saying he “enjoys seeing the military bands marching and
playing the music and enjoying themselves. That is what life
is all about.”
“That is what America is all about,” Murphy exclaimed.
