MONROE, CT — Joseph J. Madar, 81, moved to Monroe with his wife Gladys 52 years ago and the couple raised their three children here. A member of Sippin-Winspur American Legion Post 176 for the past seven years, Madar will be honored at the town’s annual Memorial Day ceremony on the town green, immediately following the parade this Sunday.
“I think that’s an honor-and-a-half,” Gladys said during an interview at the Madars’ home Monday afternoon. “He’s just so patriotic and for him to be chosen, it’s wonderful. The U.S. of A — it’s a wonderful country to defend, take care of and love.”
Gladys said she has five brothers who served in the military, two fought in World War II and one in the Korean War.
“All my uncles served,” Joseph Madar said. “My father didn’t pass the physical. My uncles were in World War II, so I wanted to do my military service as well. I was proud to serve. I think everybody should do it. It was a good experience.”
Madar, who served in the Army Reserves, is currently an officer with American Legion Post 176. During a meeting, Raymond Ganser, a fellow member, asked Madar if he would be this year’s honoree.
“All my kids will be there,” Madar said of Sunday’s ceremony. “They’re excited. They’re proud and surprised … and so was I.”
The Madars’ daughters — Christine, Anne Marie and Cathy — will attend the ceremony with their spouses and two of the couple’s grandchildren.
Serving his country
Madar grew up in Bridgeport and graduated from Bullard Havens, before joining IBEW Local 488, a union for electricians. While pursuing his career, he enlisted in the Army Reserves on September 11, 1962, embarking on an eight-year-commitment.
“I began active duty at Fort Dix in New Jersey and completed my basic training, advanced infantry training and basic unit training,” Madar recalled.
Following an honorable discharge from active duty on May 9, 1963, Madar continued to serve in the Active Reserves, 76 Division of the 385th Infantry Division for five-and-a-half-years.
“After two years of inactive status, I complete my eight year obligation on September 10, 1970 with the rank of sergeant (E-5),” he said.
While serving in the Reserves, Madar said he liked when his outfit took over a company for basic training at Fort Dix, bringing their own cooks and trainers for the rifle range, CPR and chemical, biological and radiological warfare.
Madar was a cadry, which is all non-drill sergeant personnel assigned to a training company.
“You work with the troops, get them up in the morning, do roll call, chow, make sure they have the necessary equipment, march them to the training facility and get them after their training,” he said. “We did that for two weeks over the summer.”
Madar and Gladys, who will celebrate their 59th wedding anniversary this June, are enjoying their retirement in Monroe.
“I think it’s a great town,” Madar said. “It has an excellent school system. My children were all educated here and they’re all professionals now. And we’ve had great experiences taking our grandchildren to Wolfe Park.”
Still time to march
The Memorial Day Parade theme is “Honoring Our Heroes: Past and Present.” The procession will get underway at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 25, marching from Elm Street and Route 111 north, up Route 111 to the Monroe green, with participants in authentic WWII vehicles, cars, floats and on foot.
There is still time to sign up for your group or organization to be part of this event. Information on the parade is listed on the scroller of the town website. Any questions regarding the parade should be directed to Vida Stone at 203-452-2811 or by email, vstone@monroect.gov.
Immediately following the parade, the town’s Memorial Day Ceremony will take place at the War Memorial located directly in front of Town Hall.
In the event of rain, the parade will be cancelled, but the ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Monroe Town Hall. Cancellation information will be announced on WICC, WMNR and on the Town Hall’s Parks & Recreation cancellation line (203-339-6106).
On the day of the parade, participants will line up on lower Elm Street, beginning at 12:30 p.m. Marchers should refer to the map included with their application.
Traffic advisory
Police issued a traffic advisory for the day of the parade. The roads surrounding the town’s Memorial Day Parade Route will be closed to traffic in both directions, between the green at the corner of Fan Hill Road and the intersection of Route 111 and Elm Street, at 12:30 p.m.
All side streets and shopping plazas will also be blocked, preventing vehicles from entering onto the parade route.
“Please plan your activities in advance to avoid getting stuck on the day of the parade,” the Monroe Police Department said in the traffic advisory.
The parade will begin at 1 p.m., when the procession moves from the Monroe Turnpike/Elm Street intersection, north up Route 111 to the green.
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