Rolling Taps Keeps Tradition Alive Amid COVID-19

DERBY-SHELTON — Veterans, residents, and city officials lined up six feet apart Monday to mark Memorial Day as buglers played taps on the Derby-Shelton bridge overlooking the Housatonic River.

The squad continued to play every mile on the following minute, carrying the echo up to Canaan on the Massachusetts state line.

Overcast skies couldn’t dampen the spirits of the American Legion members honoring the fallen. 

For 50 years, the Derby-Shelton Parade has been a tradition. Because of COVID-19, the parade had to be canceled this year. 

But American Legion Post 16 in Shelton organized an emotional ceremony that drew more than 50 faithful from Shelton and Derby to at least keep the spirit of the tradition alive and pay tribute to the region’s veterans. They organized a series of rolling ​“Taps” performances throughout location in Derby and Shelton up into Litchfield County..

The color guard shot off fire Monday and then led a larger crowd than expected up the bridge.

Jay Eugster, who served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II, initiated the ceremony by throwing a red, white, and blue wreath into the river at 10 a.m. Eugster served on a Higgins Boat Landing Craft as a helmsman. He saw the duty in both the African and European theaters during the war. 

Russell Avery, a member of Sons of the American Legion in Shelton for 12 years, was the first bugler to kick off the taps on the minute, at 10:01 a.m.

The crowd went silent. Avery was followed by taps from a bugler stationed near Wooster Street at 10:02 a.m.

Avery, who lives in Shelton, noted that if not for the pandemic, thousands would have gathered to mark the day. He said it was nice to see that people still came out .

“If you don’t celebrate this day, then you don’t have to celebrate any day, because without our veterans, we wouldn’t have what we have now,” said Avery. ​“It’s a day of remembrance of all of those who died serving our country. Keeping the freedom. The greatest country in the world.”

Gary Danielson, who served in Operation Enduring Freedom after 9/11, said prayers in front of the Connecticut War Memorials and on the river before a wreath was thrown into the water.

“Remembering those who have sacrificed their lives, it’s not just a day of remembrance. It’s really a continued daily activity in which we engage in the civil process of our society helping to make it a better place not only politically but also socially,” said Danielson. ​“One of the reasons I joined Post 16 is because they’re an active group in helping to forward the values of our country by investing their time and efforts for the welfare of our youth.”

Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti stood with a backdrop of Shelton firefighters and police officers to remind the crowd just how important Memorial Day is with a personal memory.

Lauretti recalled skipping the parade his first Memorial Day as mayor, in 1992, because of a rainstorm.

“I came from two WW II generation parents. I should have known better,” said Lauretti. ​“The parade marshal looked me in my eyes and said, ​‘Mayor, with all due respect, we didn’t cancel any wars because of bad weather.’ I never, ever forgot that. I never will. So, I remind everybody how important Memorial Day is. We’ve got something going on, the war would rage on.” 

Mike Kellet, commander of Connecticut’s 3rd District in the American Legion, organized the events on the south side of the river, while counterparts Karl Krump and Mary Harris organized events up north in Litchfield County. 

“On this day, veterans always come together. This was a way that we could honor those who served, even with the parade being canceled,” said Kellet. ​“In a way, the taps represent that we are strung together. We’re apart but we’re sort of together because of how the taps are carried throughout the river.”