PUTNAM — The town’s Memorial Day observance will take place on Monday May 30, with the parade step off at 10 a.m. and will conclude with a memorial program at Rotary Park.  In case of inclement weather, notification will be on WINY 1350 AM the morning of the parade.

The parade will feature a lineup of marchers which will include town officials, a National Guard Unit, local veterans groups, VFW and American Legion poppy queens, several civic and fraternal organizations and youth groups. Patriotic music will be provided by local bands and the Putnam High and Middle School bands.

The parade marshal will be, Alan Joslin. He entered the service while a senior at Putnam High School.  He graduated in June 1966. He was officially sworn into the U.S. Navy in July 1966.  He spent the first two years on tug boats in Bremerton, Wash., Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.  He volunteered for Vietnam April 1968.  Alan went to Special training in Coronado, Calif. In December of 1968 he was in Vietnam attached to U.S. Army MACV as an adviser on river patrol boats. In September of 1969 he was wounded in an ambush with fellow advisor James W. Sampers who died from his wounds.  In time Alan was sent stateside, remained in hospital for almost one year. He was honorably discharged in August 1970.

Alan worked for the State of Connecticut (DOT) as a mechanic at the Putnam garage for 30 years.  He married Jo-Ann (Gorey) Joslin in 1975 and has been married 41 years.  He has two daughters, Angela (Joslin) Stringer and Beth Joslin and five grandchildren.  Alan is a member of VFW Post 1523 of Putnam.  He is an active member of American Legion Post 13 where he is a member of the color Guard and presently Senior Vice-Commander.

To accommodate older and disabled veterans, who wish to be in the parade, transportation will be available by calling the VFW at 860-928-9897.

Following the parade a speaking ceremony will take place in Rotary Park. The  keynote address will be given by veteran Todd Stevenson. Todd enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1957 following his graduation from Woodstock Academy.  He served in active duty for five years.  Todd served in the 483rd Air Police Squadron in Japan before being assigned to the 377th Security Squadron in Vietnam.  Upon discharge, he became an active member in the Putnam business community.

All marching units and on lookers are asked to gather at Rotary Park on Kennedy Drive immediately following the parade for the Memorial Day observance ceremony. The program will be led by Master of Ceremonies, Ronald P. Coderre, a U.S. Air Force veteran.  The VFW Chaplin will be announcing the remembrance of deceased soldiers in the state of Connecticut during duty in 2015. Lillium Florist will be at the ceremony to distribute roses to family members of deceased and living Veterans.   Following the ceremony, the VFW and American Legion will host a free picnic in Rotary Park.  Refreshments include hot dogs, chips & drinks for as long as they last. 

Earlier in the week, local veterans will place American flags at the graves of Veterans interred in the St. Mary, Grove Street and Nancy Drive, Munyan Road and Rt. 21 cemeteries.  There they will remain until Veterans Day in November.

The traditional wreath laying and military tributes at Putnam cemeteries, bridges and monuments will be conducted by a National Guard firing squad plus officers and color guards from the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, starting at 10 a.m. May 29. The Putnam Police Department is providing security and escort services for all Memorial Day observance activities.