SHELTON — Like their counterparts across the U.S., first responders across the Valley are breaking up the monotony of self-quarantine life by organizing parades for kids celebrating birthdays during the COVID-19 crisis.
Reader Tina Marie Coughlin shared the video below on Facebook. She said Shelton’s Dylan Coughlin and his dad, Jim, were supposed to go to Disney for a vacation — until COVID-19 restrictions canceled those plans.
But Dylan had a memorable 9th birthday celebration nonetheless Sunday when a caravan of people and emergency responders drove by his house to wish Dylan well.Coughlin said Shelton FD’s Paul Wilson helped to organize the caravan.“Everyone was excited to get out and participate on a beautiful day even if it was from their cars. It gave us hope and a sense of community and love,” said Coughlin, who also supplied the picture of Dylan at the top this post.The video is embedded below. The fire companies and emergency responders have also been organizing parades for kids’ birthdays, adults birthdays, and wedding anniversaries. Recently they’ve been doing eight a day, according to information conveyed at a Board of Selectmen meeting held online Tuesday night.The fire department issued a written procedure on Facebook explaining how to request a parade.Here’s a Seymour parade from April 9: