Things to Do This Memorial Day Weekend

If you are anything like me, after this excruciatingly long, cold and snowy winter, you’ll be celebrating the Memorial Day weekend on several levels.

Often dubbed “the unofficial start of summer,” Memorial Day weekend means barbecues, friends, family, shorts, T-shirts and flip flops.

And, with any luck, nice weather.

As we emerge from our winter cocoons, blinking and squinting, it is imperative to remember those to which we owe this weekend, and to take some time to acknowledge what Memorial Day really means.

Originally called Decoration Day because of the practice of decorating soldier’s graves with flowers, Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service to our country.

It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868, to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers, by proclamation of General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former sailors and soldiers. In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be celebrated on the last Monday of May.

Many of our local towns mark the solemn occasion of Memorial Day with festive parades and/or ceremonies to honor our war dead. Here are a few:

Bethany: The 2011 Bethany Memorial Day parade begins at the old Bethany Airport at 10 a.m., Monday, May 30, and ends at Bethany Town Hall.

Branford: The 2011 Branford Memorial Day parade steps off Monday, May 30, at 10 a.m. on the Branford Green.

Cheshire:  The 2011 Cheshire Memorial Day wreath-laying ceremony honoring the men and women who died in America’s armed forces will be held on the Church Green on Saturday, May 28, at 10 a.m. The Memorial Day Parade steps off at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 29, and runs from Highland School to Cheshire High School along Route 10.

East Haven: The 2011 East Haven Memorial Day ceremonies and remembrances will be on Monday, May 30, featuring a procession from the American Legion Post 89 on Thompson Avenue to the East Haven Town Green. The procession is scheduled to step off at 11 a.m.

Hamden: The Town of Hamden will present its 75th annual Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 30, beginning at 10 a.m. at Hamden High School and continuing north along Dixwell Avenue to the Memorial Town Hall.

Milford: VFW Post 7788 hosts the City of Milford 2011 Memorial Day ceremonies. A wreath laying ceremony will take place in front of City Hall on Sunday, May 29, at 10 a.m. The parade begins at 2 p.m. from Daniel Wasson Field behind the Parsons Complex to the Milford Green.

North Branford:  VFW Post 8294 hosts the 2011 Memorial Day parade, Monday, May 30. The parade forms on Commerce Drive off of Foxon Road at 9:15 a.m.; parade line begins at 9:30 a.m. and steps off down Route 80 at 10 a.m. The parade will proceed east on Route 80/Foxon Road to the monument on the North Branford Green.

North Haven: The 2011 North Haven Memorial Day parade is scheduled to take place Saturday, May 28, starting at 10:30 a.m. at North Haven Middle School. The parade is organized by the Murray-Reynolds Post 76 of the American Legion.

Orange: The 2011 Orange Memorial Day parade steps off Sunday, May 29, 10:30 a.m. from the High Plains Community Center Parade Grounds, heads down Orange Center Road past the reviewing stand, with services following at Orange Center Cemetery.

Stratford: The 2011 Stratford Memorial Day services will begin at 11 a.m., Monday, May 30, with a ceremony at the VFW, a 1 p.m. ceremony on Academy Hill and at 2:15 p.m. the parade steps off heading north on Main Street to the reviewing stand at Main Street and Hurd Avenue and ends at Paradise Green.

West Haven: The 2011 West Haven Memorial Day parade is Monday, May 30, at 10:30 a.m. moving from Captain Thomas Boulevard to Center Street along Campbell Avenue. The 90-minute parade will begin with a flyover by a fixed-wing aircraft.

Woodbridge:  VFW Bedworth Post 2871 sponsors the 2011 Woodbridge Memorial Day ceremonies which begin at 10:30 a.m., Monday, May 30, on the Woodbridge Green, Meetinghouse Lane.

And now, a few other Memorial Day weekend things to do: 

Lake Compounce in Bristol (http://www.lakecompounce.com/) offers military members and their families showing valid ID 50 percent off regular admission on May 28, 29 and 30, in honor of the Memorial Day holiday. Any member who shows proof of being in a military family is eligible, and all tickets must be purchased at the gate. Regular admission to the Park is $35.99, and discounted tickets will be $17.99 each. The park will be open on Saturday, May 28, and Sunday, May 29, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and on Monday, May 30, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Quassy Amusement Park in Middlebury (http://www.quassy.com/) ushers in the summer of its new “Wooden Warrior” roller coaster with the “Rock ‘N Roll ‘R Coaster” Laser Light Spectacular at 9:30 p.m., Friday, May 27, and Saturday, May 28, in the great lawn area at the park. Canned food donations will be accepted to benefit the Connecticut Food Bank. The laser spectacular will be a 30-minute family-oriented musical montage that will include a variety of pop, patriotic, country and party music. Admission to the laser show is free, but guests are encouraged to bring canned food donations as well as folding chairs or blankets for the lawn area. A parking fee is charged at Quassy ($5 weekdays, $6 weekends) and there are additional fees for rides, food and attractions. Family ride specials will be offered both nights of the laser show starting at 5 p.m.

The 17th Annual Memorial Day Weekend Car Show happens at Quinnipiac University, Hamden, on Sunday, May 29, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event features live music, food and prizes. Car entry is $10 in advance; $12 day of the event. Admissionis $4 for spectators; under 12 free. Proceeds to benefit local charities. The rain date is Monday, May 30. For more information, check out: http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x3265.xml.

 The Bridgeport Bluefish are home all weekend playing the York Revolution at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport. Night games are on Friday, May 27, and Saturday, May 28, at 7:05 p.m. (fireworks after the game on Saturday); Sunday, May 29, and Monday, May 30, games start at 2:05 p.m.. Ticket prices range from $8 to $20. For tickets and more information, visit http://www.bridgeportbluefish.com.

Enjoy a free Memorial Day Concert at the Shubert Theatre, New Haven, (http://www.shubert.com/) on Sunday, May 29, at 5 p.m., featuring Orchestra New England and Moxie. The concert is presented by the City of New Haven and the Veteran’s Affairs Advisory committee. Space is limited so reservations are recommended. To do so, call Patricia at 203-946-8200.

Cruise New Haven Harbor on the 91’ Schooner Quinnipiack (http://www.schoonerinc.org/AboutPublicSails.htm). Enjoy a two-hour harbor discovery cruise Saturday, May 28, at 1 p.m. and Sunday, May 29, at 3 p.m., a Sunday brunch sail or a Sunday sunset sail. Tickets range from $10-$15 for kids, $25-$35 for seniors and $30-$40 for adults.

Lobster Days at Mystic Seaport (http://www.mysticseaport.org/) will take place on Saturday, May 28, Sunday, May 29, and Monday, May 30, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lobsters in the rough are served by the Rotary Club of Mystic. Lobster platters are served picnic-style under Mystic Seaport’s open-air Boat Shed, where diners can watch boats cruising on the Mystic River and enjoy music of the sea. All proceeds from Memorial Day Weekend support the Rotary Club of Mystic's community organizations and projects. Museum Admission is required to attend Lobster Days. For more information, visit http://www.mysticseaport.org.

Lime Rock Park in Lakeville (http://www.limerock.com/) opens this weekend for the 2011 racing season. Friday, May 27, through Monday, May 30, is the Grand-Am Rolex Series featuring the Daytona prototypes. Tickets for Lime Rock’s events are available both in advance and at the gate. Free parking.