05/29, 8:08pm: The parade has been cancelled due to inclement weather. See separate post for details.
Old Lyme’s Annual Memorial Day observance will be held on Monday, May 30.
A grand parade will start promptly at 11 a.m. at the Lyme Street Fire Station and proceed via Lyme Street and McCurdy Road to the Duck River Cemetery for a memorial service.
Invocation and Benediction will be offered by Chaplain Mervin F. Roberts, Chaplain of Old Lyme Fire Department.
Following the program, the parade will re-form and return to the fire station where refreshments will be available to all parade participants.
The winners of an essay contest on “What Memorial Day Means to Me” will read their essays as part of the cemetery program. The Lyme-Old Lyme High School Band, New London Firefighters Pipes and Drums and a Rifle Squad from the Connecticut Army National Guard will also participate in the ceremony.
Returning for this year’s celebration are the Lyme and Old Lyme Fire Departments, a contingent from the Connecticut National Guard and music provided by the Lyme-Old Lyme High School and Middle School Bands along with Deep River Senior Drum Corps and the New London Firefighters Pipes and Drums. Marching units representing local civic groups from Lyme, Old Lyme and Old Saybrook will also participate.
Parade participants are asked to report to the fire station not later than 10:30 a.m. for assignment to positions in the line of march which will form on the access road behind the fire station.
For youngsters who wish to march but do not have a group with whom to march, Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau (LYSB) invites them to join their contingent with a decorated bike, scooter, stroller (but nothing motorized) … whatever! If the mode of transport mentions LYSB, you will win a prize. Meet at 10:30 a.m. at the corner of the Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School Auditorium (LOLMS) tennis courts (behind the large blue and white sign saying, “Lyme-Old Lyme Public Schools.”)
The Memorial Day observance is sponsored by the Old Lyme Fire Department with financial support from the Town of Old Lyme. In the event of rain, the parade will be canceled and an appropriate ceremony will be conducted at the at 11 a.m. followed by refreshments at the Lyme Street Fire Station.
For more information contact:
Anthony Hendriks, Parade Organizer
71 Lyme Street, P.O. Box 965
Old Lyme, CT 06371
Tel (H) 860-434-9891, (O) 860-434-5201, (FAX) 860-434-8989, (C) 860-391-2947
After the parade, LYSB will be at the Lion’s Club Antiques Car Show on the grounds of Lyme Academy. They will have their Moon Bounce and other fun ‘stuff’ there.