Ceremonies to mark Veterans Day

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Naugatuck’s Veterans Day parade proceeds up Church Street last year. –FILE PHOTO

Veterans’ organizations and local officials will mark Veterans Day on Sunday with ceremonies in Beacon Falls, Naugatuck and Prospect.

The Naugatuck Veterans Council is planning a full day of observances for Veterans Day.

The day is highlighted by the Veterans Day parade at 2 p.m. The parade steps off from the Ion Bank parking lot at 87 Church St. and proceeds to the Green, where a ceremony will take place.

Naugatuck police officer Matthew DaSilva, a U.S. Army veteran, is the parade marshal and keynote speaker for the ceremony.

DaSilva, 37, graduated basic training in April 2002. He served in the infantry for ten years and was deployed twice during that time. He was first deployed to provide security at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y.

In 2006, DaSilva was deployed to Afghanistan under joint special operations command to provide security to provincial reconstruction teams. He earned several commendations and a Combat Infantry Man’s Badge during his yearlong deployment.

DaSilva left the military in 2011 to pursue a career in law enforcement. He was hired as a Naugatuck police officer in October 2007. DaSilva, who is now the department’s training officer, worked three years as the school resource officer at Naugatuck High School and has been an adviser for the Naugatuck Police Cadets.

The schedule of observances in Naugatuck is as follows: Whittemore Bridge float lowering at 10:30 a.m.; WWI memorial wreath laying at 10:45 a.m.; ringing of the bells at 11 a.m.; parade at 2 p.m.

In Beacon Falls, American Legion Post 25 will hold a Veterans Day service at 11 a.m. on Sunday at Matthies Park, 215 Pines Bridge Road.

The public is welcomed to attend and participate.

The legion will also host a Veterans Day dinner on Saturday starting at 6 p.m. at St. Michael’s Church at 25 Maple Ave. Tickets are $25 per person, and the proceeds support Legion programs. For information or tickets, call Frank Correnty at 203-632-8445, Norbert Williamson at 203-888-9916, Rich Minnick at 203-640-3119 or Bruce Carlson 203-723-6936.

Prospect will hold its Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. on Sunday on the town Green on Center Street.

The ceremony will include members of American Legion Post 194 and VFW Post 8075 placing wreathes to honor veterans. Prospect Mayor Robert Chatfield said any organization that wants to lay a wreath to honor veterans is welcome. Interested organizations should contact Chatfield at Town Hall at 203-758-4461 or the day of the event before the ceremony.

Chatfield said parishioners and the choir from the Prospect Congregational Church will also participate in the ceremony. The Rev. Stanley Youngberg will lead those gathered in a prayer, Chatfield said.

Chatfield said all veterans are welcome to participate in the ceremony. If there is inclement weather, the ceremony will take place inside the Prospect Congregational Church on Center Street.