Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend Veterans Parade a combo of somber & celebratory

Almost 100 groups marched down Route 16 as part of the 54th annual Wellesley Veterans Parade and presented themselves to presiding officer Tori DeFazio and other members of the Celebrations Committee at the reviewing stand in Wellesley Square. This year’s parade theme was the 90th anniversary of the Purple Heart (here’s a list of all Wellesley Purple Heart medal recipients). As always, the parade also honored all United States military veterans, and recognized the many organizations and people who serve the Wellesley community.

More than a dozen individuals and organizations were recognized during the event. From Parade Grand Marshal Constantin Chrysafidis, a former Wellesley resident at 35 Fells Rd. for many years and a Purple Heart recipient after being wounded  in battle during World War II, to posthumous Community Service awardee Catherine L. Johnson for her dedicated public service on behalf of the Town, the event allowed for somber remembrances in a celebratory atmosphere. Here are profiles of each of the 17 honorees.

Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend
Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend, photo credit, Mario Teixeira

 

Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend
Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend, photo credit, Mario Teixeira

Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Swellesley Report (Wellesley) (@theswellesleyreport)

 

Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend

 

Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend
Select Board members, from left, Beth Sullivan Woods, Lise Olney, Colette Aufranc, and Ann-Mara Lanza.

 

Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend
Tori DeFazio makes his way to the reviewing stand in Wellesley Square to look over the marchers.

 

Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend, Schofield School
Schofield School float.

Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend

Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend
Renée Spencer, Community Service Award honoree

 

Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend
Constantin Chrysafidis, Grand Marshal

 

Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend, Mothers Forum
Wellesley Mothers Forum

 

Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend
Celebrations Committee members

 

Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend
Raina McManus, Community Service Award honoree

 

Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend
Sustainable Wellesley float

 

Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend
DPW shows off some of their electric lawn care equipment.

The Celebrations Committee last held Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend in October 2021 as a comeback from COVID (the event was canceled in May 2020 and 2021). Here it is, seven months later, and they turned around and put the whole shebang together again, just to remind us all that Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend is a spring thing. After covering both weekends from one end to the other, we’re all worn out. But we’ll be all rested up by next May and ready for more fun.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Swellesley Report (Wellesley) (@theswellesleyreport)