East Haven Firefighters Earn Columbus Day Parade Award

The Greater New Haven 2013 Columbus Day Parade held in Branford earlier this month was not only a popular event drawing viewers from across the shoreline — East Haven's bravest was also recognized for their participation in the annual shoreline event. 

The East Haven Fire Department's color guard took home third place in the fire department category.

A total of 140 units participated in the event — which took place in Branford on Oct. 13 — with some 5,000 people taking in the sites and sounds along the route, according to the Columbus Day Committee of Greater New Haven.

The full list of this year's award winners is below:

BEST OVERAL UNIT
1. Branford Italian American Club – (Float)

BEST VETERANS GROUP COLOR GUARD
1. Nathan Hale Chapter 103 Military Order of the Purple Heart
2. Hispanic American Veterans of CT

BEST POLICE DEPARTMENT/COLOR GUARD
1. Judicial Marshall Color Guard
2. Branford Police Department Color Guard

BEST FIRE DEPARTMENT/COLOR GUARD
1. Webster Hose Co., Ansonia Fire Department
2. Branford Fire Department
3. East Haven Fire Department

BEST SENIOR FIFE AND DRUM CORPS
1. Stony Creek Fife & Drum Corps
2. Connecticut Blues Fife & Drum Corps
3. Mattatuck Drum Band

BEST JUNIOR FIFE AND DRUM CORPS
1. Marques of Granby Jr. Fife & Drum Corps
2. Nutmeg Volunteer Junior Ancient Fife & Drum Corps

BEST ITALIAN AMERICAN UNIT
1. Amity Club
2. Marchegiana Society – Float
3. Santa Maria Maddalena Society

BEST DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS
1. CT Alumni Sr. Drum & Bugle Corps
2. Deep River Drum Corps

BEST SCHOOL MUSICAL UNIT
1. Betsey Ross Arts Magnet School Marching Band
2. Celentano Museum Academy Band 

BEST SCHOOL MARCHING UNIT
1. St. Mary School of Branford
2. St. Aedan-St. Brendan School