Memorial Day parade: ‘Better every year’

KENT — The weather forecast leading up to Memorial Day threatened thunderstorms, but residents were able to enjoy a gorgeous (although quite warm) day for the town’s annual parade and celebration on Monday, May 28.People of all ages set up chairs and sat on curbs in anticipation of the procession. The Kent Lions Club gave out free American flags to attendees, unifying the growing crowd with red, white and blue colors.The parade soon appeared from its starting point at Kent Center School and featured Marshal Andrew C. Ocif, the American Legion Color Guard, veterans, the Kent Center School band, Boy and Girl Scouts (including Cub and Daisy troops), the Kent Volunteer Fire Department and a tractor-drawn wagon full of children.The procession made multiple stops along its route to perform 21-rifle salutes and offer prayers in honor of Memorial Day.The first such event occurred at St. Andrew’s Cemetery. Following the Rev. Roger White’s prayer and the color guard’s shooting of the rifles, a group of white doves was released into the clear blue sky, much to the delight of onlookers. According to Ocif and First Selectman Bruce Adams, the doves were a last-minute addition by Guy and Stephanie Mauri, making them a surprise to most attendees.Following ceremonies at the Veterans Memorial and the Civil War Monument, Kent Center School student Grace Herde recited “The Gettysburg Address” to a silent crowd at the intersection of routes 7 and 341. Adams said she was chosen by seventh- and eighth-grade social studies teachers to speak at the event.The parade then made its way to the Kent Memorial Library, where Adams completed his “solemn duty” of reading the names of Kent veterans who died of injuries received in combat. In his accompanying prayer, the Rev. Thomas Berberich of Sacred Heart Church honored the sacrifice of the veterans, saying, “May their deaths have not been in vain.”The event ended at the Kent Community House, where American Legion Hall-Jennings Post No. 153 provided ice cream and the Kent Lions Club offered refreshments. As attendees enjoyed their treats, they all looked up in awe as a military jet flew over their heads.Adams said the pilot is Jeff Parkin, a Kent resident who is part-owner of the jet. He said Kent, Sharon and New Milford all pitched in for the fuel costs to create a truly unique ending for the town’s Memorial Day celebration.And how does Adams think the day went? “It gets better every year,” he said with a smile.