More Than a Long Weekend: Remembering Those Who Served
By Karl Chevrolet | New Canaan, Connecticut
Leo E. Karl Jr., U.S. Army, circa 1952.
My father, Leo E. Karl Jr., was 22 years old when he was drafted into the Korean War. He served as a Communications Officer in the 110th Infantry Regiment, stationed in Germany from 1952 to 1954. He did not see combat on the front lines, but he answered his country’s call, put on the uniform, and served with honor during one of the more uncertain periods in postwar American history.
When he came home, he joined his brothers at the family dealership in New Canaan that his father had opened in 1927. He spent the next 70 years building something here; a business, a family of ten children, and a life rooted in faith, community, and service to others. He passed away in January 2024 at the age of 94.
For our family, Memorial Day has never been just a long weekend.
What the Day Is For
Memorial Day honors those who gave their lives in service to this country.
Memorial Day began as Decoration Day – a tradition of placing flowers and flags on the graves of soldiers who died in the Civil War. Over time, it grew into a national observance honoring all Americans who gave their lives in military service.
It is not Veterans Day, which honors all who have served. It is not Armed Forces Day, which salutes those currently serving. Memorial Day is specifically for the fallen, the men and women who did not come home.
This year, Memorial Day carries even more weight. As America marks its 250th anniversary, we are reminded that the freedoms we celebrate, the ones that make a summer weekend with family possible, did not arrive without cost. They were secured and defended, generation after generation, by people who volunteered or were called up, left their families, and in too many cases, never returned.
Many Karl family members, across generations, have answered that call. My father was one of them. We honor him, and all of them, on days like this.
New Canaan Honors Its Own
VFW Post 653 placed flags at veterans’ graves at Lakeview Cemetery on May 16th.
Before the grills are lit and the beach chairs come out, there is quiet, important work being done in our own backyard.
On May 16th, volunteers from VFW Post 653 – the Howard M. Bossa and Peter C. Langenus Post and the community gathered at Lakeview Cemetery on Main Street to place American flags at the graves of fallen soldiers in New Canaan. They met at the lower Veterans’ section, just past the bridge at the cemetery entrance, on a Saturday morning at 8 a.m. No fanfare. No press. Just neighbors showing up to make sure the men and women buried there are remembered.Set featured image
The VFW carefully removes and preserves those flags after the holiday weekend – following proper flag etiquette established at Arlington Cemetery – so they can be used again next year. It is exactly the kind of detail that tells you these volunteers understand what they are doing, and why it matters.
If you would like to support Post 653’s ongoing work, tax-deductible donations can be made by check to Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 653, P.O. Box 653, New Canaan, CT 06840, or online at vfwpost653.square.site.
The New Canaan Memorial Day Parade takes place Monday, May 25th – look for details at the Town of New Canaan’s website and on NewCanaanite.com or New Canaan Sentinel. If you have never attended, it is worth going. It is one of those traditions that reminds you what a small town like this actually is.
Karl Chevrolet Salutes Those Who Serve
Throughout the month of May, Karl Chevrolet joins Chevrolet in honoring the men and women who serve and have served our country.
Chevrolet’s Military Appreciation Program offers eligible active-duty military, veterans, retirees, and their spouses:
- $500 cash allowance on the purchase or lease of most new Chevrolet models
- 25% off a SiriusXM subscription
- Up to 20% off OnStar connected services
Full eligibility details and program terms are available at chevrolet.com/chevy-cares/military-support. If you believe you qualify, come see us at 261 Elm Street or give us a call at (203) 966-9508, we will make sure you receive every benefit you have earned.
Chevrolet’s commitment to military families goes well beyond the showroom. Through Operation Homefront, Chevrolet has helped deliver more than $26 million in assistance to military families since 2011. Through the Shifting Gears program, over 700 veterans have graduated as GM-trained automotive technicians, with a pathway into civilian careers that honors the discipline and skills they developed in uniform. And if you have ever wondered whether Chevrolet’s connection to the military goes beyond marketing – the Infantry Squad Vehicle, selected by U.S. Army Special Operations units for troop transport, is built on the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 platform. That is not a coincidence. It is more than a century of GM engineering in service of the people who need it most.
Honor It First: Memorial Day Weekend Observances Near Home
If you are looking for ways to mark the day before the weekend festivities begin, there are meaningful options close to home and in the city.
In Fairfield County: Towns across the region hold Memorial Day parades and ceremonies on Monday, May 25th, including Fairfield, Greenwich, Westport, Ridgefield, Wilton, Darien, and Trumbull, among others. Arrival times vary – check your town’s website or local news for exact details.
In New York City: Fleet Week runs May 21–27 along the Hudson River, with ship tours and military demonstrations open to the public. The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum hosts a full weekend program at Pier 86, including a wreath-laying ceremony on May 25th with a Navy fighter jet flyover. The Brooklyn Memorial Day Parade – now in its 157th year – steps off at 11 a.m. Monday from 78th Street and Third Avenue in Bay Ridge. Then, just about a month from now, SAIL4th 250 will kick-off with exciting events around the NYC area, including special events at the Intrepid Museum!
Then Go Enjoy the Weekend
There is nothing wrong with also enjoying what those who served were fighting to protect. A Memorial Day barbecue, a day at the beach, a family road trip — these are not a distraction from the meaning of the day. In a very real sense, they are the point.
A few ideas for the first unofficial weekend of summer:
Connecticut shoreline: The beaches open Memorial Day weekend. Compo Beach in Westport and Hammonasset State Park in Madison are both worth the drive. Hammonasset is the largest shoreline park in Connecticut and a perfect full-day destination for families.
Milford Food Truck Festival: More than 25 food trucks at Connecticut Post Mall through the weekend — free admission, a great way to kick off the season without much planning.
Litchfield Hills: Farm stands, wineries, and antique shops are coming to life for the season. A day through the hills on Route 202 or Route 44 is one of Fairfield County’s best-kept open secrets.
New York City: Governors Island opens for the season with ferry access from Manhattan — a perfect afternoon of biking, picnicking, and watching the harbor. Hudson River Park is as alive in late May as anywhere in the region.
Coming Up: Caffeine & Carburetors Returns — June 14th
Leo E. Karl Jr., right front, with the Karl Chevrolet service team, early 1950s — the same years he was serving his country and building a business his father had started in 1927.
One more thing to put on your calendar before summer really gets going.
The first Caffeine & Carburetors event of 2026 takes place Sunday, June 14th in Downtown New Canaan. For anyone unfamiliar, C&C is one of the region’s great car-culture gatherings — extraordinary vehicles, good coffee, and a genuinely welcoming crowd of enthusiasts. It happens a few times a year right here in New Canaan, and it never gets old.
Registration for vehicle owners is open at caffeineandcarburetors.com. Whether you are bringing a car or just coming to enjoy the show, it is a perfect Sunday morning.
A Final Word
My father spent two years in uniform, far from home, doing his part. He came home, built a life, and – in his own words – tried to live by three things: faith, family, and community.
That photograph above shows him with his team at the dealership, sometime in the early 1950s. He was just starting out. He did not know then what the next 70 years would bring. He just showed up and did the work.
That is what Memorial Day is about, at its core. Not just the monuments and the parades – though those matter – but the quiet example of people who served when called, came home when they could, and built something lasting.
From our family to yours: thank you to every person who has worn this country’s uniform. We do not take what you have given us lightly.
Have a safe and meaningful Memorial Day weekend.
Karl Chevrolet | 261 Elm Street, New Canaan, CT | (203) 966-9508 | karlchevy.com
For Chevrolet’s Military Appreciation Program eligibility details, visit chevrolet.com/chevy-cares/military-support.
To support VFW Post 653 in New Canaan, visit vfwpost653.square.site or mail a donation to P.O. Box 653, New Canaan, CT 06840.