Lt. Col Steven Gilbert,
Commander of the 1st Battalion, 102d Infantry Regiment of the
Connecticut Army National Guard.
Command Sgt. Maj. Dave
Warner,1st Battalion, 102d Infantry Regiment of the
Connecticut Army National Guard.
Designated as the Task Force Iron Grays while stationed in Afghanistan,
their unit conducted a full spectrum of operations in support of
Operation Enduring Freedom. The Task Force Iron Grays enabled the
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan by working with Afghan National Security
forces and Multi-National forces in order to establish security, and
deter the re-emergence of terrorism to enhance the sovereignty of
Afghanistan. They had two specific mission focuses during the tour: 1)
to provide security to the Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs); and
2) to conduct full spectrum counter-insurgency operations in the
provinces of Ghazni and Laghman. The 102nd Infantry conducted more than
1,450 combat patrols in 20 named combat operations.
Their Security Force (SECFOR) platoons were instrumental in providing
the necessary security to the Provincial Reconstruction Teams as they
enabled the government and population of Afghanistan to rebuild after a
25-year period of war. The focus of the SECFOR platoons was to establish
a buffer between the PRTs and the insurgents in order to develop the
much needed political and infrastructure for the government of
Afghanistan to thrive.
2007 Honorary Grand Marshals
Anthony V. Savino Bristol resident who served on active duty with the U.S. Army(Korean War-Era Service) and Connecticut Army National Guard for 40 years. He served as the State Command Sergeant Major of the Connecticut National Guard for his last 16 years. Anthony has done extensive volunteer service in his community as officer and member of multiple boards, commissions and organizations.
Carmen Anthony Vacalebre Owner/CEO of Carmen Anthony Restaurant Group and Waterbury resident. Carmen has been a vital force in securing community contributions for the Connecticut Veterans Day Parade to keep this public tribute to our veterans alive and the largest in New England.
Walter “Doc” Hurley, Sr. Founding President of the Doc Hurley Scholarship Basketball Classic. The organization encouraged Hartford’s young men and women to stay in school and then go on to college with the help of modest but essential scholarships. The Doc Hurley Scholarship Foundation has awarded over $490,000 to 478 deserving high school seniors in the Greater Hartford area. Doc also served in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Phyllis A. McMeans Served in the Marine Corps from June 1971 to January 1974. She was
trained in Personnel Administration in South Carolina and then transferred to
California. She was then stationed in North Carolina at the Marine Corps Air
Station where she trained as an Air Traffic Controller. The East Hartford
resident is the longtime Choir Director for Hopewell Baptist Church. Its Gospel
Quartet will sing the National Anthem during the parade, following a Moment of
Silence. She also is Director of the Men's Music Ministry and the Church Choir
at the Bethel A.M.E. Church in Bloomfield, and was the 2007 Director of the
Martin Luther King, Jr. Choir, which was formed for a performance with the
Hartford Symphony.
Juan M.
Fuentes-Vizcarrondo Well-known
area photographer and newsman, including at Hartford Times and El
Observador. Served in U.S. Army and Reserves during time of Korean
conflict.
2006 Grand Marshal
Frank Falana Served Three Tours of Duty
A decorated veteran, Frank Falana served three tours of duty for his
nation. In 1969, he volunteered for service in the Army Infantry in
Southeast Asia’s Vietnam War and was a paratrooper with the Air
Calvary, repelling down ropes into ground combat. At the end of his
tour, he joined Operation Just Cause in Panama, assisting in the
removal of Pres. Noriega and flying air crews, medical crews and
soldiers, including bringing the deceased back to the U.S. Later, as a
Staff Sergeant for the U.S. Air Reserve, he delivered supplies, clothing
and uniforms during Operation Desert Storm.
When he returned home, Falana spent more than
20 years in the Executive Protection Department of Northeast Utilities,
as a body guard as a driver for the Chairman, Officers and Trustees. A
longtime volunteer firefighter for the Wethersfield Fire Department, he
volunteered for various fire and police organizations, as well as
coaching and refereeing youth sports.
He was a member of the Governor’s Horse Guard, and worked with the Shriners, entertaining hospitalized
children.
Falana worked as a Supervisor for the U.S. Marshal
Service, his department provided courtroom security for federal judges.
He was a member of the
Manchester Pipe & Drum Corps, which marched with him during the 2006
parade. A
courageous veteran who devoted his life to helping others, Frank
succumbed to brain cancer December, 2006.
2006 Honorary Grand Marshals
Edward S. Banas, Sr. Past National Commander-in-Chief, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the
United States
Edward S. Banas Sr. was elected Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of
Foreign Wars on August 29, 2003 at the 104th national convention, held
in San Antonio, Texas. He is only the second member from Connecticut to
be elected to this position.
Mr. Banas served in the Army from 1965 to 1968. In
Vietnam, he was assigned to the 18th MP Bde. and was awarded
the Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense
Medal and the Army Good Conduct Medal.
In 1967, while still in the military, Mr. Banas joined
VFW Post 10004 in Jewett City, Conn. He served in a variety of positions
at the Post level including Post Commander. At the district level, Ed
earned the honor of All American District Commander. He served as
Department Commander of Connecticut in 1993-94.
On the national level, Mr. Banas has served on several
committees including Safety, By-Laws, Budget & Finance, and as chairman
for both the Americanism and Legislative Committees. He served a
two-year term in 1994-1996, as a member of the National Council of
Administration representing the Departments of Massachusetts and
Connecticut. In 1998-1999, he served as the Eastern States Conference
Chairman.
Mr. Banas put his military police experience to good
use when he became a member of the Norwich Police Department in 1968 and
served with the department for more than 10 years. During this time, he
was a member of several law enforcement associations including
Patrolman's Benevolent Association, New London County Detective
Association, Connecticut Narcotic Officers Association, and the
International Narcotic Officers Association. He now lives in Niantic,
Conn.
Judith E. Keene USCG Commandant of Cadets, United States Coast Guard Academy
Captain Judith E. Keene, USCG,
graduated with high honors from the Coast Guard Academy in 1981, and was
recipient of the award for the Highest Proficiency in Management. Upon
graduation, she was assigned aboard USCGC MUNRO in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Other operational tours include Commanding Officer of Coast Guard
Station New London, Connecticut and Deputy Group Commander of Group
Woods Hole. In June 2003, she returned to Group Woods Hole as Group
Commander. At Group Woods Hole, she oversees the operations of
eight multi-mission small boat stations and one seasonal station, four
patrol boats, two aids to navigation teams and a long range aids to
navigation station.
The New London resident also has served in a variety
of staff assignments including Executive Assistant to the Deepwater
Program Executive Officer; Gender Policy Advisor to the Commandant;
Assignment Officer at the Personnel Command; Deputy Comptroller at the
Reserve Training Center in Yorktown, Virginia; and Chief of the Human
Resources and Personnel Services Branches at the 14th Coast Guard
District Office in Honolulu, Hawaii. While in Honolulu, Captain Keene
attended the University of Hawaii where she earned a master of business
administration degree and received the Lum Yip Kee award given to the
top graduate. She was also a National Security Fellow at Harvard
University from 1997–1998. Most recently, Captain Keene served as Chief
of the Resources and Planning Branches for the Coast Guard’s Pacific
Area in Alameda, California.
Captain Keene’s personal decorations include the Coast
Guard Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), the Secretary of
Transportation’s Silver Medal, the Coast Guard Commendation Medal with
Operational Distinguishing Device (4 awards) and the Coast Guard
Achievement Medal (2 awards) as well as other unit and service awards.
Al Meadows Coordinator of Connecticut’s Operation Gift Cards
For the past year, Huntington’s Al
Meadows has devoted much of his time to saying “Thank You” to
hospitalized soldiers who were wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He is the creator and coordinator of
Connecticut’s Operation Gift
Cards (www.ctveterans.org), which visits troops in Washington’s Walter
Reed and Bethesda Military Hospitals, bringing “Thank You” kits that
include cards and PX gift certificates. To date, the program has
personally presented more than 1,900 kits and $38,000 in gift
certificates to injured soldiers from all over the U.S.
A Purple Heart recipient himself, Mr. Meadows served
in the DMZ in Korea in the
Army’s 2nd infantry division in 1966 to 1967.
He then spent almost a year in Vietnam with the Ninth division of the
Mobile Riverine force – a special unit composed of both Army and Navy
soldiers. He served on ground combat, as a rifleman, as a radio man for
forward observation team, and as an assistant gunner in a heavy mortar
platoon. Mr. Meadows decorations include: Combat Infantryman's
Badge, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal,
National Defense Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam
Service Medal, Korean Defense Medal, and Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Today, Mr. Meadows is
Vice Commander of the Military
Order of the Purple Heart for Connecticut, and is a past State Commander
for the Disabled Americans Veterans. He is a member of the American
Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S.
When he returned to home,
he worked for many years as a draftsman and supervisor in an engineering
firm. Today, he runs his own commercial graphic design studio in
Huntington, Conn.
James W. Shelmerdine, JR. President, Connecticut Chapter of Korean War Veterans
The President of the
Connecticut Chapter of Korean War Veterans, Mr. Shelmerdine has been a
member of the Veterans Day Planning Committee since the event’s
inception in 2000.
James is a lifelong East Hartford
resident has devoted his life to the ensuing America’s freedom through
military service. He joined the Connecticut Army National Guard in 1952
and, five months later, was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served as
Combat Rifleman in the First Battalion 224th Infantry, 40th
Infantry Division in North Korea. Two days after his discharge in 1954,
he joined the Connecticut Air National Guard and served for three years
as a Personnel clerk, First Sergeant and Legal Technician at Bradley Air
Field in Windsor Locks. When his unit was eliminated after 37 months, he
joined Army National Guard and was a Platoon Leader and Company
Commander for nine years.
Shelmerdine’s career
includes work as General’s Aide, Operations, for the 76th
Training Division in West Hartford. From 1973 to 1992, he was on
sporadic Active Duty, balancing that responsibility with his civilian
career as an insurance claims adjuster.
Currently, he is Commander
of the Final Honors Firing Squad at veterans’ funerals and is a member
of ESGR (Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve). For the past 25
years, he has served as Marshal of the East Hartford Memorial Day Parade
and has been a member of the Town‘s Patriotic Commission for more than
30 years.
A retired Lieutenant
Colonel of the Army Infantry, Shelmerdine is the recipient of many
awards, including a Purple Heart, a Meritorious Service Medal, an Army
Commendation Medal, an Army Achievement Medal, a Combat Infantry Badge,
a Parachutist Badge, a Korean Service Medal with 2 bronze stars, a
United Nations Service Medal, a Korean Presidential Citation, and a
Republic of Korea Service Medal.
2005 Grand Marshal
Elwood A.D. “Woody” Lechausse
Resident of Enfield, and a tireless advocate for many veterans groups on local, state and national levels, including extensive work for the Disabled American Veterans of America. Lechausse served in the U.S. Army between 1958 and 1965, and was a Sergeant in Vietnam and Turkey. Currently, he is the Legislative Committee Advisor for the Connecticut.
2005 Honorary Grand Marshals
Tom Condon
An Editor and Columnist for The Hartford Courant. Trained in Cryptography and Electronic Warfare Systems, Condon was a First Lieutenant in Vietnam in the Army’s Military Intelligence Branch with the 9th Infantry Division and the Delta Military Assistance Command. Tom was honored with a Bronze Star Medal and an Army Commendation Medal, both for meritorious achievement.
Sally Hitchcock
A World War II Army Nurse and First Lieutenant who served in the Southwest Pacific. A graduate of Smith College in 1941, and Yale School of Nursing in 1944, Sally worked as head nurse at Newington Veterans Hospital until 1948. She is the author of the book, Letters Home: Memoirs of One Army Nurse World War II, a collection of letters and commentary on her war experiences.
Rob Simmons A Vietnam Veteran and recipient of two Bronze Star Medals. Rob is a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives where he was also a member of the U.S. Armed Services, Transportation and Homeland Security Committees, and Chairman of the Homeland Security Intelligence, Information Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment subcommittee.
2004 Grand Marshal
John Motley
Burlington resident and former President of the Travelers Foundation, Vietnam veteran and proud supporter of the parade. John is an active member of the parade Executive Committee and is a partner in MotleyBeup Group LLC.
2004 Honorary Grand Marshals
Lloyd "Fig" Newton
Retired four-star General, 34 year career with the U.S. Air Force. Lloyd was a former Thunderbird pilot, congressional liaison officer, and administrative director of operations of the U.S Special Operations Command.
Beth Cooper
Member of the Jewish War Veterans of America and West Hartford resident. Ben worked at Colt as part of the WWII effort and was a Combat Medic with the U.S. Army’s 45th Infantry that liberated Dachau Concentration Camp in Germany. Since 1990 he has been speaking about his wartime experience with students in schools throughout our region, to help them better understand our history.
Ray Dunaway
Resident of Avon, and WTIC-AM talk show host who has been involved in this parade since its inception in 2000. Ray has been the superb announcer at the review stand, really making every unit feel acknowledged and important.
2003 Grand Marshal
Michael Morris
Former CEO/President/Chairman, Northeastern Utilities. A longtime supporter of veterans and this parade. Also a former ROTC Brigade Commander.
2003 Honorary Grand Marshals
Linda Spoonster Schwartz
Commissioner of Veterans Affairs, State of Connecticut. Linda was a member of the U.S Air Force Nurse Corps from 1968 to 1986. She has dedicated her post military career to teaching and veteran’s issues. Linda has been commended for her leadership on the issue of homeless veterans, Agent Orange and Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.
Edward Hall & Connie Napier
Former Tuskegee Airmen, a remarkable group of African Americans who distinguished themselves as the 99th Pursuit Squadron. The squadron was later incorporated into the U.S. Army Air Corps 332nd Fighter Group, who fought during World War II.
2002 Grand Marshal
Dick Booth
President and CEO of the Hartford Steam Boiler. Richard is a member of the Boards of St. Francis Hospital, the American Insurance Association (AIA), The Griffith Foundation for Insurance Education, the Florence Griswold Museum and the MetroHartford Alliance, Inc. Additionally, Richard is on the Board and Executive Committee of the Hartford Youth Scholarship Foundation and has been a longtime supporter of the parade.
2002 Honorary Grand Marshals
Terry Giaconne
A Gold Star Mother whose son, Air Force Technical Sergeant, John Chapman, was the first CT citizen to die in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, in March 2002. Terry is a resident of Windsor Locks.
2001 Grand Marshals
Brad Davis
Host of the Brad Davis Radio Program on WDRC, co-founder of the parade, and its most loyal & eloquent promoter. Brad is an active member of the Executive Committee and served in the U’S’ Marine Corps.
2001 Honorary Grand Marshals
Governor and Mrs. John G. Rowland
Lieutenant Governor M. Jodi Rell
2000 Grand Marshals
Marilda L. Gandra
President, Aetna Foundation, Founder of the CT Veteran’s Day Parade with her son Paul, Marilda is the parade’s most ardent supporter.
2000 Honorary Grand Marshals
Governor and Mrs. John G. Rowland
Connecticut Veterans Day Parade
216 Main Street, Hartford Connecticut, 06106 / phone: 860-724-2649 x23 / fax: 203-286-1675
Copyright 2005-2008 Connecticut Veterans Day Parade
Edward S. Banas, Sr.
Judith E. Keene
Al Meadows
James W. Shelmerdine, JR.