MONROE, CT — The coronavirus pandemic may have wiped out the town’s annual Memorial Day Parade, but thanks to a creative group of residents, Monroe will be able to formally honor the men and women who died for their country after all.
The Monroe Locals Drive By Memorial Day Parade will be held this Sunday at 2 p.m.
Participating vehicles, pre-decorated for the occasion, will gather at the pool side of Wolfe Park by 1:45 p.m. and the procession will leave at 2 p.m., turning right onto Cutlers Farm Road and driving passed the Monroe Senior Center.
The parade will then turn right onto Purdy Hill Road and right onto Old Newtown Road, before turning right onto Pepper Street.
From there, the vehicles will turn right onto Jockey Hollow Road, right onto Fan Hill Road and conclude at the Town Hall gazebo.
The route was created to avoid left hand turns crossing traffic, main roads/high traffic areas and intersections with traffic lights due to the large amount of cars expected to drive in the parade.
“Although we are unable to drive by specific veteran’s homes during the main portion of our drive by car parade, group members can create individual drive by events, including their specific home addresses,” said Adrienne Stepkoski, a parade organizer.
In a Facebook post, she said those parades can begin at 3 p.m. and be held at 15 minute intervals for anyone in the local area to participate in.
“Have fun and be safe Monroe and thank you for being awesome,” Stepkoski wrote.
To ensure safety during the drive by parade, organizers spoke with local town resources. All participants are asked to keep their hazard lights on throughout the parade and to obey all local traffic laws.
