Memorial Day Activities and Remembrances
Photo, Weston Today. 2019 Memorial Day parade
Traditional Memorial Day events — the Fair, the Parade — are not happening this year, but the PTOs and other organizations have seen to it that the fun can continue and that those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country are honored.
Activities
Hurlbutt Elementary and Weston Intermediate School PTOs have arranged events that still allow families to come together and have fun on Memorial Day weekend.
You can get information about the events and ticket purchasing on a special web page set up by the PTOs.
Movies
On three nights at 8:00 pm, movies will be shown at Lachat Town Farm and Weston High School.
On Friday night (the 28th), the Lachat movie is “Babe,” the story of a young pig, separated from his family, who learns to herd sheep in an effort to save his own life.
That same night, “Beetlejuice” screens at the high school. Michael Keaton, Alec Baldwin, and Geena Davis star in the story of a happy couple who haunt their old home while waiting to be processed into heaven.
On Saturday night the 29th, at the high school, it’s “Hook,” with Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman, and Julia Roberts. A workaholic lawyer remembers he was once Peter Pan after Captain Hook kidnaps his children.
On Sunday night the 30th at Lachat, “Night at the Museum” screens, the story of a museum where a curse brings exhibits to life at night, starring Ben Stiller, Carla Gugino, Ricky Gervais, Robin Williams, and Dick Van Dyke.
Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster “Twister” plays at the high school that night. Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton chase the largest tornado ever in Oklahoma as their marriage implodes and rival scientists will stop and nothing to steal their breakthrough.
Virtual Escape Rooms
On Saturday the 29th, younger kids can enjoy two Virtual Escape programs. In both, the object is for teams to unlock clues, beat the clock, and make a great escape. With a live host and game guide, the virtual escape rooms are a fun and challenging interactive experience.
Noon programs are sold out, but tickets for 3:00 are still available at this writing.
In “Gold Rush,” a greedy gold prospector made too many bets with the wrong crowd and now is missing. Players have been tipped off to where he stashed his gold, but so has the mob, so it’s all a question of who finds it first.
In “The Heist,” teams are an espionage outfit working to recover a stolen masterpiece presumed hidden in the unscrupulous curator’s office. They have one hour to slip in and recover the painting before the curator returns.
The PTO special web page also features a store where you can buy snacks and Weston swag such as hats, shirts, and bags. This all benefits the PTOs, whose major fundraising event each year is the Memorial Day Fair. So, go big!
Remembrances
The Intermediate School PTO has also partnered with the Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, and the town’s Veterans Affairs Committee to honor the fallen and veterans.
Due to ongoing Covid-19 precautions, the events aren’t really intended for the public, but on Saturday morning at 10:00 the Boy Scouts will hold a U.S. Flag Retirement ceremony, in coordination with the Weston Volunteer Fire Department, at the Norfield fire station.
Worn and tattered American flags should never be thrown away. The proper way to dispose of them is to have them retired by burning.
If you have such a flag, you can drop it off at the Weston Public Library any day this week during the Library’s hours of operation. You will find a marked bin at the side entrance.
After the ceremony, Town officials will place a wreath at the Memorial Gardens on the Library grounds. Cub Scouts will have a flag display at the gardens, sponsored by the WIS PTO, representing the United States, Connecticut, and all branches of the military.
Finally, a small group of resident veterans will arrange an American flag display at the Coley Town Cemetery, which is on Weston Road just south of Weston Gardens.