31/05/2026
Forestville Memorial Day parade 2026
After ten years of organizing the Forestville Memorial Day Parade, The Forestville Memorial Day parade committee, made up of American Legion Post 209 members, has made the difficult decision that the 2026 parade was the final Forestville Memorial Day Parade.
This decision was not made lightly. For a decade, our members have dedicated countless hours to planning, fundraising, coordinating participants, working with public safety officials, and managing all aspects of the event to ensure that Forestville continued to
honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation.
The reality is that the parade has become increasingly difficult to sustain. The number of volunteers involved in planning has steadily declined, leaving a small group of Post 209 members responsible for nearly all of the work.
The community-based planning committee that was originally envisioned no longer exists, and despite repeated efforts, we have been unable to build the broader volunteer support needed to continue the event. We have also faced growing challenges securing the community partnerships necessary to support an event of this size. While some local businesses and organizations have been valued supporters over the years, meaningful engagement and participation have become increasingly difficult to maintain.
Organizing a successful community parade requires more than financial contributions—it requires collaboration, participation, promotion, and a shared commitment to the event's success. Unfortunately, that level of support has steadily declined.
Participation from local organizations, schools, bands, youth groups, civic organizations, and businesses has also decreased over time, making it harder each year to present the type of parade that the community has come to expect. Attendance has likewise declined, reflecting a broader challenge faced by many community events.
This is not a decision that was made because the committee has lost interest. It is a decision that reflects the reality that a community parade requires community-wide participation, and that participation has steadily declined over time. At some point, we had to honestly assess whether a small group of volunteers could
continue carrying the responsibility of an event of this size.
The answer was no. While this decision is disappointing, there is also a sense that this year's parade provided a fitting and meaningful conclusion.
This year's parade allowed our community to honor two individuals whose impact on Post 209 and Forestville cannot be overstated: Chuck Woodin, founder of American Legion Post 209, and Edgar Morin, one of the Post's charter members. Both passed away in recent months, and having the opportunity to recognize their lives and contributions during this final parade made the occasion especially
meaningful.
The end of the parade does not mean the end of our commitment to Memorial Day. American Legion Post 209 will continue to conduct Memorial Day ceremonies and other veterans' programs to ensure that the sacrifices of our nation's fallen service members are remembered and honored.
We are proud of what the Forestville Memorial Day Parade represented and grateful to everyone who supported it over the years. Traditions like this survive only when they have broad community support. Unfortunately, that support no longer exists at the level necessary to continue the parade.
On behalf of Forestville Memorial Day Parade Committee, I want to thank every volunteer, participant, sponsor, public safety official, and community member who helped make the parade possible over the past decade. It has been an honor to carry on this tradition and help preserve the true meaning of Memorial Day for the Forestville community.
As part of the Parade Committee Charter the remaining funds in the account will be given to local nonprofit organizations that serve Forestville, Bristol and the surrounding towns including such organizations as Veteran's Strong, Operation Hold Your Horses, Women's Monument, Agape House, St. Vincent de Paul, Prudence Crandall, Brian's Angels, Asbury
Methodist Church, Post 209,Gloria Dei Church and Scouting of America Troop 1425.
Sincerely,
Brian Avery
Chairperson Forestville Memorial Day Parade Committee
American Legion Post 209 Commander
This is a video I produced about the Forestville, CT Memorial Day Service and Parade. It will also be aired on NutmegTV. See ...
