WESTPORT — The town’s Memorial Day parade, a traditional hometown salute to men and women who died in service to the nation, steps off Monday morning.

The parade, scheduled to get underway at 9 a.m. Monday, May 27, will follow its usual route through downtown: Starting on Riverside Avenue near Saugatuck Elementary School, marchers will proceed to the Post Road and cross the Saugatuck River via the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge, and continue to Myrtle Avenue past Town Hall, then to Main Street and conclude at Parker Harding Plaza.

Following the parade, a ceremony will take place on Veterans Green, featuring speeches and music paying tribute to the fallen.

In case of inclement weather, the program will take place at 10 a.m. in the Town Hall auditorium, 110 Myrtle Ave.

Charles P. Lamb, a Navy pilot during the Korean War, is the parade grand marshal.

Theme for floats in this year’s parade is the American flag, honoring the legacy of William “Bill” Vornkahl III, the longtime organizer of Memorial Day parade, who died in January. For his decades devoted to planning the annual event, Vornkahl became known as “Mr. Parade.”

In addition to the parade route itself, several streets along the line of march will closed to traffic from about 8:30 to 11 a.m. Monday, according to police. They include: 

• Riverside Avenue, between Treadwell Avenue and Post Road.
• Post Road West/East, between Sylvan Road and Compo Road.
• Wilton Road, between Kings Highway North and Post Road.