New Milford pays tribute on Memorial Day

Girl Scout Troop 40208 from New Milford make sure to thank American veterans for their service on one of the signs they bear proudly in the New Milford Memorial Day parade. Handling the honors with the signs are, from left to right, Cassandra Williams, Ariana Taylor, Charlie Vaughey, Shelby O'Brien and Meaghan Sheedy, and, in back, Julia Meadows, Morgan LaFontan, Alexis Plue, Quinn Mulen and Melody Bard. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

The New Milford HIgh School color guard and marching band were a featured part of the New Milford Memorial Day parade. Bearing the band's banner and showing the way along the parade route are Jared Parker, left, and Kristopher Traynor. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

Michelle Pitcher performs on trombone and Evrett Thompson on baritone for the New Milford High School marching band during the the New Milford Memorial Day parade. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

John Dalzell offers his best on trombone as the New Milford High School marching band performs during the New Milford Memorial Day parade. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

Snare drummer Nicholas Noga of the New Milford HIgh School marching band focuses on his rhythm as nearby photosgraphers snap a few shots during the New Milford Memorial Day parade. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

In their memory The reflection of the American flag is visible Monday, May 28, 2012 in a window above the New Milford Public Library's front portico as New Milford Veterans Committee members, from left to right, Jeff McBreairty, James Delancy and Dan Sullivan, offer a salute during the town's Memorial Day pre-parade ceremony. Poised to begin his powerful vocal rendition of the Star Spangled Banner is resident Curtis Thompson.For more photos from New Milford's Memorial Day parade and ceremonies, see S13 Spectrum Images and check www.newmilfordspectrum.com. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

Each deep in his own thoughts, U.S. Army Special Forces alumni, from left to right, Don Lacaskey, Ben Stochmal Jr. and Ray Crawford, hold their salutes as the American flag is raised to half staff to signal the start of Monday's Memorial Day ceremony in New Milford. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

Serving as the American Legion color guard are, from left to right, Bill Depra, Frank Morris, John Avalone and Bob Greco, during the New Milford Memorial Day parade. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

The Veterans of Foreign Wars firing squad of, from left to right, George Brown, George Vincent and Frank Peet offer a gun salute to conclude Monday's Memorial Day ceremonies and parade in New Milford. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

Thomas Vita of the New Milford High School marching band plays "Taps" from the front walk of the Lillis Funeral Home, in duet with John Rothen from nearby Town Hall, to conclude Monday's Memorial Day ceremony in New Milford. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

Keeping anything but a low profile as she marches with Girl Scout Troop 40205 in Monday's New Milford Memorial Day parade is Taylor Bentley. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

Kelli Powell of New Milford cruises Railroad Street in her '67 Volkswagen Bug as the leader in a mini-parade of vintage cars featured as part of Monday's Memorial Day parade in New Milford. On board to navigate for Kelli is Amber Andrews. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

New Milford Boy Scout Troop 432 is led along the Memorial Day parade route by the purposeful leadership of color guard Anthony Cavuoto, a Life Scout, left, and Second Class Scout Jacob Meadows. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

Walter Bayers, a longtime town councilman and veterans advocate, quietly exhibits his passion about Memorial Day during New Milford's pre-parade ceremony. May 28,2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

Mayor Pat Murphy reflects on the meaning of Memorial Day as she speaks to the throng of thousands on hand for New Milford's annnual ceremony an dparade. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

Veterans Committee member James DeLancy listens in as State Rep. Clark Chapin (R-67th) shares his thoughts on Memorial Day with a large turnout in downtown New Milford. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

A traditional flyover by the Air National Guard wasn't to happen on Memorial Day in New Milford, but New Miford veterans officials arranged to have this former Navy jet flown over the village center during Monday's pre-parade ceremony. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

U.S. Army Special Forces alumnus Ben Stochmal Jr. of Seymour issues a passionate plea for Americans to stay strong to the nation's principles. May 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

Tax collector Cathy Reynolds is joined by Daisy Scout Breanna Robles, 6, of New Milford to sing "God Bless America" during their town's Memorial Day pre-parade ceremony from the steps of the public library. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

Lance Cpl. Matthew Kaulins, on leave from active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps and a veteran of duty in Afghanistan, accepts rousing applause from those on hand for Monday's Memorial Day ceremony in New Milford. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

Matthew Pagan, 4, appears to deliver a salute to those along the New Milford Memorial Day parade route on Monday as he rides with Emma Russell, 4, atop Water Witch Hose Co. No. 2's ceremonial carriage. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

New Milford Ambulance president Donna Hespe waves to a friend along the Memorial Day parade route. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

Members of Council No. 40 of the Knights of Columbus are dressed in their ceremonial finest as they march in Monday's Memorial Day parade in New Milford. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

A proud quintet of New Milford police officers represent NMPD's color guard during Monday's Memorial Day parade in New Milford. Standing at attention during the pre-parade ceremony are, from left to right, Officer Stefan Adamcik, Officer Mark Williams, Det. Corey Thomen, Det. Mark Lynch and Sgt. Ed Hannan. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

Showing the way for a veterans contingent in Monday's Memorial Day parade in New Milford is the American Legion color guard of, from left to right, Frank Morris, John Avalone, Bob Greco and Peter Pecora. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

The New Milford High School color guard lends its showmanship and talents to Monday's Memorial Day parade in New Milford. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

The Water Witch Hose Co. No. 2 is led through the streets of New Milford by its color guard during Monday's Memorial Day parade in New Milford. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

Grace Cusack wisely relies on a bottle of ice water to keep her cool as she marches with her fellow Special Olympians during Monday's steamy Memorial Day parade in New Milford. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

The New Milford Lions Club takes a holiday break from its many activities to march in Monday's Memorial Day parade in New Milford. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

The Masons of St. Peter's Lodge No. 21 in New Milford look resplendent as they march in Monday's Memorial Day parade in New Milford. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

The Schaghticoke Middle School marching band earns plaudits for its performance in Monday's Memorial Day parade in New Milford. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

Members of the Woman's Club of Greater New Milford are all smiles as they relish the opportunity to march in Monday's Memorial Day parade in New Milford. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

Leading a large contingent of students at the Vilage Center for the Arts in in Monday's Memorial Day parade in New Milford are banner carriers, from left to right, Greg Demko, 18, Lauren Greiner, 11, and three of Greg's siblings, Patch, 10, Tessa, 14, and Emi, 16. The center was on hand not only to celebrate Memorial Day but to promote its interactive "Paint the People" event on June 9. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

Celebrating its 40th anniversary of youth football and cheerleading, the New Milford Bulls' Pop Warner program sends a contingent of youths to march in Monday's Memorial Day parade in New Milford. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

Young athletes from the Elite Gymnastics Center in New Milford march in Monday's Memorial Day parade in New Milford. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

The seemingly "cast of thousands" Sarah Noble Intermediate School marching band performs as it marches in Monday's Memorial Day parade in New Milford. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

The seemingly "cast of thousands" Sarah Noble Intermediate School marching band performs as it marches in Monday's Memorial Day parade in New Milford. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

Members of the Boy Scout Troop 66 live up to their motto by coming "prepared" with a handy wagon to cart them around the parade route duirng Monday's Memorial Day parade in New Milford. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

Vietnam War veteran and Veterans Committee Member Jeff McBreairty offers a salute to his lost comrades as he participates Monday in the post-parade Memorial Day ceremony at the south end of the New Milford Village Green. Photo: Norm Cummings

Likely weary from the heat and the long parade, Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts hang in there to attend the post-parade Memorial Day ceremony on the south end of the Village Green in New Milford. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

Engaging in a time-honored New Milford tradition, Cub Scouts frolic on the U.S. Army tank on the Village Green during the Memorial Day ceremony proceeding just a few yards away. May 28, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings