Blaring sirens and flashing lights led the way as Newtown’s 58th Labor Day Parade followed police motorcycles along Main Street on Monday morning, September 2. First in line among the handful of motorcycles were officers Lenny Penna and Tim Shoen. In step behind the bikes was Newtown Police Department’s Honor Guard.

On Main Street just below the flagpole, Alison and John Breny stood arm-in-arm, glancing toward the sound of this year’s approaching parade.

Marching bands, dancers and martial artists, fire companies, and nearly three hours' worth of town volunteers, civic organizations, community members, political groups, scouts, businesses, and more waved to hundreds of spectators watching the procession. Three-month-old puppy Grace squirmed at the noise of engines and drums on Queen Street while owner Lisa Snyder of Sandy Hook tried to soother her pet. “It’s her first parade,” She explained.

Just minutes after the motorcycles passed was parade Grand Marshal William Halstead, escorted by his wife Debbie Aurelia Halstead and grandchildren Ryan Halstead and Emma Guilfoil. The long-time chief of Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company was just one of many representatives of Newtown’s community celebrated on Monday.

With the possibility of rain in the morning’s forecast, a few umbrellas opened along the parade route winding down Glover Avenue and onto Queen Street. Although there were a few minutes of sprinkling drops, rain started shortly after this year’s march.