By Thane Grauel

WESTPORT — State and local officials recognized Bill Vornkahl’s more than 50 years of service to his fellow veterans at a gathering Saturday afternoon at VFW Post 399.

Vornkahl, who served in the Army’s 1st Cavalry Division during the Korean War, came home to Westport, started a family and organized veterans’ events, including the Memorial Day Parade, for more than a half century. He was deeply involved in the VFW Post and American Legion Post 63, as well as other groups.

Along the way he became known as “Mr. Parade.” He died Jan. 26 at 93.

Saturday afternoon, several town officials, state representatives and dozens of others gathered to honor Vornkahl’s dedication. His family received memorial citations from the town, General Assembly and lieutenant governor.

Selectwoman Andrea Moore presented the town’s.

“His enthusiasm was infectious, his pride and attention to detail was steady and his dedication impressive,” Moore said. “Most importantly, Bill’s love for his country, and his commitment to honoring the sacrifices of many men and women who have served in the military was unmatched.”

State Sen. Ceci Maher, D-26, recognized that Vornkahl’s sons and daughter, who were on hand, had likely played a role in their father’s parade activities, and enjoyed watching the processions as well.

“The loss must be great and we’re very sorry,” she told the family when presenting a memorial citation from Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz.

State Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, D-136, and Dominique Johnson, D-143, presented a memorial citation from the General Assembly.

“Could there be a higher, better title than Mr. Parade?” Steinberg asked after it was read.

“All of us I think take for granted how important this particular parade is to our community,” he said. “Is there anything that brings us together in that way, from Little Leaguers to Boy Scouts to veterans and the like? So Bill not only honored our country and all the veterans, but he brought this community together in a very special way.”

“Parades are sort of a last vestige of the sort of small-town quality that we aspire to hang on to and it is very difficult,” he said. “So, there will never be another Mr. Parade, in my view. Short of naming the entire parade after Bill, it will always be his parade.”

Others who knew Vornkahl through his church, St. Paul’s, the community and the parade spoke as well, including Representative Town Meeting member Andrew Colabello, District 4.

He remembered his mother telling him how she worked for Vornkahl at the Westport Bank and Trust Co.

“‘He was the only boss that didn’t fire me,’” he recalled his mother saying, to laughs from the crowd.

“But what she remembered most was when my mother was just starting in her career in modeling, he actually pushed her to go into the city,” he said, saying it was OK to take days off. “He was understanding, even if you weren’t his own child he treated you like you were one of his own.”

Thane Grauel grew up in Westport and has been a journalist in Fairfield County and beyond for 36 years. Reach him at editor@westportjournal.com. Learn more about us here.