The East Hartford Veterans Commission is pleased to announce that the keynote speaker for the East Hartford’s Memorial Day Parade will be Admiral Karl Schultz, Commandant of the Coast Guard.
Admiral Schultz is no stranger to our town – he is a product of our school system and a graduate of East Hartford’s George J. Penney High School. His father, Leo Schultz was a longtime teacher in the English Department at East Hartford High and was the proud coach of the EHHS Girls Badminton Team.
Admiral Schultz graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 1983. Following a distinguished career around the world, he was promoted to Commandant of the United States Coast Guard in 2018 by former President Donald J. Trump.
Admiral Schultz, set to retire, this month as Coast Guard Academy Commandant will be followed by Adm. Linda Fagan, currently the Coast Guard’s vice commandant. She becomes the first woman to lead a U.S. military service. Adm. Fagan has been the Coast Guard’s number two since June, and is the first woman in the service to be promoted to four stars.
Monday’s Memorial Day Parade will end with a gathering and celebration at the end of Riverside Drive with booths of local businesses and organizations, food trucks, a traveling exhibit of World War II history, information for local veterans groups and an opportunity to learn about other timely topics and meet with Town and State leaders informally. The public is encouraged to stay.
Officially, places to park are: 434 Willow St. 403 Main St., 373 Main St., 361-365 Main St., 95 Willowbrook Road, 125 Riverside Drive, 133 Riverside Drive, the parking garage at 9 Riverside Drive, 211 Riverside Drive, 195 Riverside Drive, 167 Riverside Drive and at 2 Pent Rd. off High St. Spectators may also park on Ensign St., Willowbrook Road, King Court, and Crosby St.
Highway exit closure: The Route 2 exit 5 on and off ramp will be closed from 8 a.m. until noon. Willow, Hillson, Philips and Crosby streets will be closed from 8 a.m. until noon.
Riverside Drive will be closed starting at 10 a.m. until the parade passes onto Goodwin University.
