Charlie Chrysler, 5; Evelyn Chrysler, 2; and Grace Jackson, 2, watch St. Ann's Club march in the Memorial Day Parade.

Photo Credit: Nancy Chapman

Natalie Baryzk leads the Ponus Middle School band up East Avenue.

Photo Credit: Nancy Chapman

A Revolutionary War honor guard starts the parade off with a bang.

Photo Credit: Nancy Chapman

Suzanne Hessert, 10, her mom, Dierdre Sullivan, and Anna Breault, 11, watch the parade.

Photo Credit: Nancy Chapman

Horses make their way up East Avenue, just ahead of local state representatives and state Sen. Bob Duff.

Photo Credit: Nancy Chapman

Kareen Garrison, 12, plays clarinet with the Side-by-Side Community School band.

Photo Credit: Nancy Chapman

Irene Daris and Matt Noble lead the Brien McMahon High School Senators marching band down East Avenue.

Photo Credit: Nancy Chapman

Marchers pass the reviewing stand and their Revolutionary War honor guard.

Photo Credit: Nancy Chapman

A family watches the parade pass, recording it with video.

Photo Credit: Nancy Chapman

The Norwalk High School Marching Bears provide entertainment.

Photo Credit: Nancy Chapman

Ethan Dunbar, 3, and his mother, Susan Ross, look for a friend in the Brien McMahon High band.

Photo Credit: Nancy Chapman

The Norwalk Exchange Club reads the names of fallen soldiers.

Photo Credit: Nancy Chapman

All-Saints Catholic School reaches the end of the parade.

Photo Credit: Nancy Chapman

Veterans proceed by the reviewing stand.

Photo Credit: Nancy Chapman

Robert Kramer, a veteran, indicates that William Harrick, 100 years young and still civically active, deserves recognition.

Photo Credit: Nancy Chapman

Children waved their flags with enthusiasm Monday morning, enjoying every minute of Norwalk's annual Memorial Day parade. It started with a bang, as four Revolutionary War-era re-enactors fired muskets as they marched.

That was followed by Sgt. Joe Moquin, who showed off a new Norwalk Police Department motorcycle, the Norwalk Veterans Memorial Committee and Mayor Richard Moccia shaking hands with people on the eastern side of the street. Marching bands, civic organizations and others came next, as the procession took more than an hour to pass by the reviewing stand in front of the Norwalk Inn.

A shiny chrome ax got the attention of Suzanne Hessert, 10, as the Norwalk Fire Department marched by. She wore a tricorner hat and was waiting for her brother, a member of the Norwalk High School band.

Ethan Dunbar, 3, got excited when the Brien McMahon High School band came along and went running out to find his cousin's boyfriend. Susan Ross, his mom, said the family also knows band members Wilson Haven and Mark Joubart.

Charlie Chrysler, 5; Evelyn Chrysler, 2; and Grace Jackson, also 2, had a great vantage point, and they didn't have to go far to get it. Their families live right off East Avenue and walk down every year to watch. The children got into the swing of things Sunday as they helped Connor Inglis, 9, and Zoe Inglis, 6, make patriotic bracelets. The kids sold them before the parade to raise money for Fisher House, which provides housing for families of veterans receiving medical care at major military and Veterans Affairs centers. Jen Inglis said people had been generous with their donations, and the children had raised more than $100.

"It was steamy but nice," said Monica Garrison, referring to the weather. The morning had started with thunderstorms, but the rain let up in time for the parade to go on. Garrison said she is in the "next stage of mommyhood," and it was the first time in years that she wasn't in the parade. Instead, she watched her 12-year-old daughter, clarinet player Kareen Garrison, march with the Side-by-Side Community School band. Kareen said it was "very fun," as they got to play the Marine Hymn, a once-a-year occasion.

Another woman said she was disappointed that the Quakers weren't in the parade this year. People for a Peaceful Tomorrow was "taking a year off," parade marshal Jim Wrinn said, because some members had yelled slogans at the reviewing stand.

"I have mixed feelings about it," the woman said. She also said her children were disappointed that there were no popsicles given away at the end of the parade. But she was happy there were more horses than before, and said the parade was "terrific."

Did you go? What did you think of this year's parade?