M E M O R I A L    D A Y   A N D    O T H E R    D E V E L O P M E N T S

CONTENTS

NEWS:

BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE/TOWN GREEN

Historic Districts as planning tools:  HudsonNY.html#WESTONCT

M E M O R I A L    D A Y
September, 11, 2001
2006 - Very, very loud full video shown on Public Access (in S-VHS) no longer available BUT photos/captions tell the story!
2009
2015 - Very special music by brass ensemble - skip to 24 minutes 6 seconds into About Town's audio recording of 2015 Memorial Day event from Town Green.
2016
2018
2019 - WESTON LIBRARY
2019 Town Hall-EMS-Police interior renovation






Presently under construction - Town Hall to re-open August 10, 2020.


FEB. 3rd meeting said YES unanimously.




Bids are to be returned Thursday Dec. 12th - we don't know the time yet.  What's next?  Special Town Meeting...




TOWN GREEN IN GREENSWARD



BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE May 13, 2020 at 1:30pm via Google Meet
AGENDA:  http://www.westonct.gov/media/file/BeautificationAgenda5-13-20.pdf

THE MINUTES INCLUDING CONTINUATION

Quorum.  Minutes March 4 approved.

Library not pleased with Library directional sign.

Bidders (on back burner?) - will be getting numbers in @ 2 wks.  Three bidders.  Once chosen go to Selectmen and start fund raising. Nancy knows the Pandemic is front and center.

TOWER INTERFERENCE.  Recessed to next Wednesday at 1:30pm to compete agenda in meeting outside Town Hall see minutes above). 

OUR QUESTION:  Why would anyone bid on the project while Town/Fire Department/EMS project ongoing?  And how would the addition to the Library (Offutt Center) also complicate construction?



THANK YOU WESTON-TODAY!!! (Sept. 2019)






ORIGINAL CHARLES DAUGHERTY MURALS IN THE COMMISSION ROOM INSPIRED RECENT ART? 

According to Westport NEWS report you might think the Town Hall Greensward never had had community uses:  https://www.westport-news.com/news/article/Broad-support-for-Weston-town-green-despite-14289684.php#photo-18045147

From the photo in the Westport NEWS (not shown) the crowd assembled contained about the same number of people (not the SAME people) that the fracking public hearing did. 


We hesitated to go any further for fear of misrepresenting the presentation...but now, HERE IT IS!

What are the next steps?  Refining who does what when and how much will it all cost piece by piece???
From the Town of Weston website:  http://www.westonct.gov/media/file/WestonTownGreen2019-06-06.pdf










R A I N E D    O U T

   
Many 2016 Memorial Day Parades in Connecticut - including Westport and Weston - went indoors for ceremony.


THANKS TO CHANNEL 79 WE WATCHED THIS ABBREVIATED EVENT
Excellent speeches by Fire Department, by minister, by State Representative Shaban  and by First Selectman.
  
First Selectman spoke of American desire for peace, rebuilding. 
A depiction of the atom bomb, (left),  appears at the bottom of #3 at right below ("Science and Invention").
THANK YOU BOB
Heartfelt statement by Grand Marshal, resplendent in his parade sash.  Fine job by horn quintet of more creative piece of music than usually played.







MEMORIAL DAY PARADE CEREMONY, MONDAY. MAY 25, 2015, WESTON, CT.;

NEWS OF RETIREMENT 7-15-15, OF SGT. FERULLO:  http://www.thewestonforum.com/51522/news-alert-weston-police-sergeant-mike-ferullo-is-leaving/?utm_source=Weston+Forum&utm_campaign=b9048fa5c3-FO_NEWS_ALERT&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_848b12f59d-b9048fa5c3-193260349

  
CEREMONY WITH THOUGHTFUL OPENING PLUS SOME GREAT MUSIC
There were many people lining the streets, who gathered to listen to addresses:  http://www.aboutweston.com/MemorialDayCeremony5-25-15.mp3

     
"FUNKY DAWGZ" BRASS BAND
Was awesome and looks like Black Lab (c) was feeling the beat!  Board of Selectmen walked together in the line of march past a gauntlet of Weston dogs and their owners.

  
WESTON IS PETS AND KIDS
Did we mention that there were a lot of kids there?  And an American Eagle, too, looking very serious.

    
A VERY SERIOUSLY PRETTY PLACE
So pretty; and again, so pretty; and (take my word for it) another pretty male Westonite!  Very intellectual breed (l) has been reviewing the Dog Ordinance, and is proud dogs on leash can enjoy event.


I CRIED.
Listen to the wonderful trumpet work that is part of the ceremony here:  GO TO "24.06" for awesome jazz




WESTON MEMORIAL DAY FAIR
The usual suspects gather at the Onion Barn?  Observed with cellphone at the time, now a graphic memory.






   
M.S. Wirtenberg
A triptych :  "AT THE GAZEBO" series in watercolor. 
Having a gazebo was originally the idea of Selectman Dick Bochinski, if memory serves.



Down came the towers
In a hail of grey thunder
Like volcanic ash.


Saluting The Many Who Sacrificed All
The Civil War spawned both Memorial Day and Arlington National Cemetery; they each commemorate the sacrifices of ordinary people
Editorial
The Hartford Courant
7:47 PM EDT, May 23, 2014

The Civil War, the United States' most deadly conflict, gave birth to two important ways to commemorate the rank-and-file who had fallen.

One was Memorial Day, which we celebrate today. Originally known as Decoration Day, its original purpose was to set aside a time each year when Civil War veterans' graves would be decorated with flowers and small American flags...


The Hartford Courant editorial in full at that publication's website.


MEMORIAL DAY 2006


  
Blowing in the wind:  World War One ("The War to End All Wars") - did it make the world "safe for democracy"?  Parade doesn't pass Historical Society (awesome WW1 exhibit spoke volumes 2014).
The Selectmen's lead red convertible can play great vintage tunes from when this classic car was new.  Leaders of tomorrow aboard!
Perhaps two future Selectpersons, one a daughter of a Selectman and the other the driver's grand-daughter (with a political pedigree on both sides of the family and from both Parties) led the Parade!  Following the big, red convertible, left to right, Selectman Glenn Major, First Selectman Woody Bliss and Selectman Richard Miller!

 MEMORIAL DAY PARADE & CEREMONY, MONDAY, MAY 29, 2006, WESTON, CT
The 2006 Memorial Day Parade as it happened - view this "virtual Parade" below!  Know all about Weston's event!
Crowds came early to get the choice viewing locations.
Guess who has the best spot?

Who comes after the Board of Selectmen?

Then it gets REALLY loud - check out the WVFD and EMS equipment!!!

Dial-a-Ride Van takes a bow - Senior Activity Center opening at Hurlbutt South House soon!
What's a Memorial Day Parade without bands playing patriotic music?

Some of the most import and and beloved residents of Weston are...animals.  And they paraded, too!

The major Political Parties marched.  Were they as cute as...

Leaders of the next groups (especially the one on the right)?
Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and Brownies did their duty and walked the whole way!

The Ceremony was traditional, as was the message of the Grand Marshal - respect the protectors of our way of life.

Editorial, May 23, 2014, Hartford Courant.


The crowd assembled earlier than usual.  We set up on the south-east corner of  Norfield and Weston Roads...



Getting ready to cheer on the parade...woof!



Grand Marshal comes along next;  more vets in;  State Representative John Stripp rounds the corner...



And voila!  Next is the host organization of this event - the WVFD!  Did you say you wanted to see and hear some fire trucks...HINT:  the red ones are older.  And they have other types of vehicles, too!  There are two firehouses in Weston.  Am I seeing double?  (EMS brought two ambulances!)  Weston has a 100% volunteer fire company and EMS (emergency medical service)!!!



Dial-a-Ride Van takes a bow!



The Weston Middle School Band and Weston High School Band made the Music department look and sound great!



The Weston Historical Society looked very historical;  horse belonging to equestrian group seemed ready to give us a show!  And let's hear it for Big Bird!



Political Parties showed their "fitness," perhaps to govern.   NOTE:  RTC  uses correct  procedure to  remember if you want to stay alive on the roads as a runner or walker - always AGAINST traffic!



Norfielders came out on parade.  And a little child shall lead them!



Then there were the boy scouts and the girl scouts...and brownies and  cub scouts




At the end of this brief Parade, there was a Ceremony:  Invocation, hoisting of the flag, National Anthem, Pledge of Allegiance, Grand Marshal's remarks,  placing of the wreath on War Memorial, three round salute by firing squad, taps, America the Beautiful, Benediction.  And then Open house at Fire Station 1 - free hot dogs and soda for all!  There was a Veteran's BBQ lunch after the Ceremonies (at Norfield Church).