The parade will form behind the Thomaston Center School at 9:30 a.m. and begin at 10:00 a.m. The parade will proceed down Main Street to Center Street to Hillside Cemetery for Ceremonies honoring the deceased. At the cemetery, Miss Columbia will be rowed around the pond by U.S. Army Veteran, Keith April. Miss Columbia for 2022 is Mackenzie DiDonato. Her court will be Emma Sanson and Aurelia Barker. The escorts are Connor Riley, Dylan Walmsley and Zach Stevenson. After strewing flowers on the waters, Doves of Peace will be released followed by a volley from the American Legion firing squad and Taps will be sounded. The parade will re-form at the bottom of the hill and march to Veterans’ Memorial Park by way of Meadow Street, Elm Street, and East Main Street.
A float will be provided for any veteran who would like to be in the parade and is unable to march. Please contact John Beecher at 860-283-4438 (home) or 860-459-6408 (cell) for reservations. The Commission asks that all veterans wear their medals. If you have a picture of medals of a deceased veteran, we ask that you bring them to Veterans’ Park and place them on the Civil War Monument before the ceremonies begin.
At the park, Miss Columbia and her aides will read General Logan’s Orders. The names of the servicemen from Thomaston whose burial place is unknown will be read and flags will be placed around the Civil War Monument in their memory. Thomaston High School Seniors will read the names of all Thomaston veterans killed in action. Miss Columbia’s escorts will read the names of Thomaston veterans who have passed in the last year. A Thomaston eighth grade student Tyler Veronesi, will read the Gettysburg Address. Thomaston High senior Mel Shkrepi is reading the Importance of Memorial Day which she has written. The VFW Auxiliary and the American Legion will place wreaths, and the American Legion Firing Squad will fire a volley. Taps and benediction will follow. Following the services at Veterans Memorial Park, free refreshments will be served at the American Legion Hall on Elm Street. In case of rain, the ceremonies will take place at 10:00 am in the Thomaston Opera House.