Our Heroes Past & Present - Memorial Day Parade 2025
Westport’s much-loved Memorial Day Parade 2025 brought thousands to town on a beautiful sunny day with perfect temperatures to enjoy the celebration of our heroes.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The crowd began to line the streets at 8:30 AM and by the start time of 9:00 AM, everyone had gathered to enjoy the parade.
Westport PD motorcycle unit leads off as they do each year, lights flashing as they smiled and nodded to the spectators.
Following the motorcycle unit, the honor guard marched and next, command staff including the newly named Chief David Farrell led their officers across the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Memorial Bridge.
Veterans from the Marines, Army, Navy and National Guard presented their colors and the well-known POW-MIA flag which commemorates those who endured captivity and those who have never returned home after service to their country.
Several of the marching bands crossing the bridge received cheers and applause from the crowd.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Members of te Westport Fire Department including Chaplain Father Cyrus Bartolome, Pastor, Church of the Assumption.
It’s not every one gets to ride on a firetruck. These two seemed pretty happy to do so.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
This vintage Jaguar XKE, also know as E-Type was a much admired vehicle as it passed by the crowd. A supercar of the 60’s and early 70’s, the E-Type had one of the longest hoods in any vehicle of its era, and was one of the few cars to do 0-60 MPH under 7 seconds and had a rated top speed of 150 MPH.
Passing by in another beloved classic vehicle, a Cadillac Eldorado convertible carries the Grand Marshal, Judge Edward Karazin Jr. as it has frequently done for past Grand Marshals. Judge Karazin has had a stellar career filled with accomplishments. He entered the U.S. Army in 1965 where he became a civil affairs officer serving in Viet Nam. His multiple awards included the Bronze Star and the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross.
Another American classic, a 1968 Ford Mustang was packed with girls waving the red, white and blue.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The ubiquitous Jeep Wranglers led a mini parade of SUV’s, one of which had a giraffe that for some reasons was wearing an Indians jersey, and that had to duck to avid hitting the stop lights.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Members of the Staples High School music program proudly perform. They also attended the Memorial Commemoration after the parade concluded., playing for the audience at Veteran’s Green.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service members, marching. The organization relies on donations from the community to fund their operations, saving lives everyday.
The Westport Women’s Club always invites our favorite Minuteman (or maybe second favorite after the iconic statue on Compo Rd.), aka, Miggs Burroughs.
Closing out the parade near the town hall reviewing stand, the Pyramid Shriners, from Stratford are a favorite part of any parade as they circle and weave in their famous tiny gas-powered cars.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.