Spend an hour honoring those who served and gave their lives, and have a good time with fellow members of the DMA.
If you are able to join us, please arrive at the Goodwives shopping center by 9:30 am.
We are assembling at the far end of the parking lot near the Tengda Restaurant.
It is suggested that you wear a blue shirt and tan or khaki pants (If you don’t have them, don’t worry about it.)
There is no parking at Goodwives so you will have to park at:
- The Mechanic Street Parking Lot (adjacent to and behind the Darien Volunteer Fire Department)
- The YWCA, or,
- the First Congregational Church of Darien parking lot.
But, we recommend that you be dropped off, and have your driver park near the end of the parade. (The medical center across the Post Road from the Cemetery is a good choice).
The parade route proceeds down the Post Road for 1.25 miles. we will have cars for those who need a ride.
The parade starts at 10 AM and will be over by 11 AM.
We want to have marchers, but if you are unable to walk (march) we will hopefully, have enough room in our cars for those who can’t walk. We encourage those who can walk to do so.
Please come and represent the Darien Men’s Association in honoring the men and women who have served our nation.
Some history on Memorial Day:
Nearly 150 years ago, Memorial Day— first called Decoration Day— was set aside to decorate the graves of the men who’d recently died in battle. America was still reeling from the Civil War when Gen. John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, issued a proclamation in 1868, according to a PBS account of his decision. “The 30th of May,” he declared, “would be an occasion to honor those who died in the conflict.”
The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet church-yard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.