People across Connecticut paid tribute on Monday to the loved ones who served our country who lost their lives at numerous Memorial Day parades and services.
Avon, Danbury, East Hartford, East Lyme, Fairfield, Farmington, Hamden, Madison, Mansfield, Middletown, North Stonington, Norwalk, Old Saybrook, Shelton, Suffield, West Hartford, West Haven and Westport were just some of the towns who had parades on Monday and several others like Wethersfield and Newington had theirs over the weekend.
Bridgeport also had three Memorial Day services Monday including one on Pleasure Beach.
As bands made their way down Main Street in Middletown, our nation's color's led the way, as thousands lined the street.
“To honor the veterans, I think it’s very important for all of us to pay respect to all of the people who are serving in the military," Dan Musinski, of Middletown, said.
It's a sight that Marylou Racik and her husband look forward to every year.
"Actually my grandparents used to own the theater across the street so I actually like to be across from there, it’s not there anymore but you know, so we’ve done this for years," Racik said.
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She said seeing children march in the parade brings a smile to her face and that they're learning the importance of the parades and what the symbols stand for.
“It really does because it’s encouraging and it’s nice to see and they’re excited about it and they get the feeling for what it means, so it’s very nice, very nice," she said.
Ashley Walsh, whose husband served in the Navy said she makes it a point for her two children, Abigail and Mason to know that members of the military gave their lives for families like theirs.
“You want your kids to know that it’s not just a nice day off to kick off summer, there’s a lot more behind it. Exactly. It’s about what all of the service people have done for our country and how important, and what they’ve sacrificed for all of us," Walsh said.
