Memorial Day Candlelight Vigil at the Parade Plaza

Memorial Day Candlelight Vigil at the Parade Plaza in New London on Sunday, May 24, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., offering a community evening of remembrance honoring military members who lost their lives in service to the country. Held in downtown New London along State Street, the annual vigil invites residents, veterans, active-duty service members, and military families to gather beneath luminaries for a ceremony focused on reflection, gratitude, and honoring sacrifice during Memorial Day weekend. Admission is free, and the public is encouraged to attend.

The Memorial Day Candlelight Vigil will feature remarks from local leaders along with the presentation of colors by the New London High School NJROTC Color Guard as the ceremony begins at 7:30 p.m. Luminaries will be available beginning at 6:45 p.m., helping transform Parade Plaza into a quiet memorial space in the center of downtown New London. Corsages will also be provided for veterans attending the event in recognition of their service.

This year’s ceremony specifically honors Cal Robertson, a U.S. Navy veteran and peace activist who passed away in January 2026. Born in Norwich and raised in eastern Connecticut, Robertson enlisted in the Navy as a medical corpsman in 1964 before later becoming involved in peace activism following his military service. In the event of rain, the ceremony will move indoors to Union Train Station in New London.