Westport Memorial Day 250th Observance

Westport will hold its 2026 Memorial Day parade and commemorative services on Monday, May 25, with town officials framing this year’s observance around the theme “250 Years of Honor & Service.” The Westport Parks and Recreation Department said the parade will begin at 9 a.m. and end at Parker Harding Plaza, with memorial services to follow on Veterans Green on Myrtle Avenue. The town said the program is intended to honor U.S. service members who died in military service. Organizers have tied the event to the broader America 250 anniversary observance through the parade’s theme and related programming. ### When and where does the Westport observance begin? Monday, May 25, is the date of the town’s official Memorial Day observance, according to Westport’s Parks and Recreation Department. The parade is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. on Riverside Avenue and proceed east on Post Road East, then onto Myrtle Avenue and Main Street before concluding at Parker Harding Plaza. Veterans Green on Myrtle Avenue will host the memorial services immediately after the parade, the town said. In the event of rain, Westport said the services will move indoors to the Town Hall Auditorium and begin at 10 a.m. ### What does “250 Years of Honor & Service” refer to? March 18 was the date Westport announced the 2026 float-contest theme, “250 Years of Honor & Service.” The town said the theme recognizes “the enduring dedication and sacrifice of America’s veterans and military personnel.” Patch also reported that Westport’s 2026 Memorial Day events were being presented as part of local observances connected to America’s 250th anniversary. The town has used the same theme across parade materials and the official line of march released on May 18. ### Who is leading this year’s parade? Herbert “Herb” Podel, 101, was named grand marshal on May 11 by the Westport Parks and Recreation Department. The town said Podel is a World War II veteran who served in the Pacific Theater attached to a CB Unit as an aviation and electronics specialist. Westport said Podel has lived in town since 1965 and has remained active in civic and volunteer work, including service with local senior and religious organizations. The town said he now lives at The Residence at Westport and participates in programs at the Westport Center for Senior Activities. ### Who is scheduled to take part in the ceremony on Veterans Green? Brien P. Horan, a retired brigadier general in the Connecticut Army National Guard, is listed by Westport VFW Post 399 as master of ceremonies for the Veterans Green program. The VFW posting said Cub Scout Troops 39 and 139 will lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Kevin Christie, Westport’s first selectman, is scheduled to deliver a welcome address, according to the VFW notice. The same posting said the Green’s Farm Elementary School Chorus, led by Suzanne Sherman Propp, will sing the national anthem, and members of American Legion Post 63 and VFW Post 399 will place a memorial wreath before a firing detail salute by the Westport Police Department. ### What should residents know about logistics? Westport said parade cancellation information will be available at 203-341-5074 and on the town’s social media platforms. The route released by the town runs through central Westport and ends downtown, where services will begin immediately afterward. Westport VFW Post 399 said it will host a free luncheon after the parade and ceremony at its post at 465 Riverside Ave. The group invited residents to join veterans there after the formal observance concludes. ### What happens next? May 25 is the next public milestone, with parade participants set to assemble before the 9 a.m. start on Riverside Avenue. Westport officials said the ceremony will move to Town Hall Auditorium at 10 a.m. if weather forces the outdoor program off Veterans Green.