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Darien Announces Memorial Day Grand Marshal, Contest Winners

DARIEN, Conn. – The Darien Memorial Day Parade Committee announced that 7-year-old Caroline Ward and 10-year-old Julie McTigue were the winners of the third annual Memorial Day Children’s Drawing Contest.

Winners of the third annual Darien Memorial Day Parade Children’s Drawing Contest showcase their artwork. From left to right: Julie McTigue, Selectman Jayme Stevenson and Caroline Ward.

Winners of the third annual Darien Memorial Day Parade Children’s Drawing Contest showcase their artwork. From left to right: Julie McTigue, Selectman Jayme Stevenson and Caroline Ward.

Photo Credit: Contributed

The girls were honored for their ability to show patriotism and understand the significance of Memorial Day by creating original drawings. Both will be part of Darien's Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 25.

“Congratulations to Caroline and Julie for their patriotic drawings of what Darien’s Memorial Day Parade means to them,” said Selectman Jayme Stevenson in a statement. “On Memorial Day, we remember the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for our great country. This contest and our town’s patriotic parade give the entire community an opportunity to show our support and gratitude for their service.”

Caroline, a first-grader at Hindley Elementary School, drew a fire truck and people in a parade waving flags. Julie is a fourth-grader at Holmes Elementary School and drew a flag, wanting to honor soldiers and the symbol of the country.

World War II and Korean War veteran Eugene "Gene" Coyle will be the parade's Grand Marshal. Coyle served as a Marine and went on to work for Time Magazine.

A staple of the community, he raised money for wounded vets with the Marine Corps League, was a member of the Representative Town Meeting, the Republican Town Committee and the Republican Club of Darien. He currently is a Justice of the Peace.

After the parade, the Memorial Day Ceremony will be held at the State Veterans Cemetery at Spring Grove.

For more information or to volunteer for the Memorial Day Parade Committee, email Sara Franzese at sara@franzese.net or Kate Kuras at katekuras@optonline.net.

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