Blumenthal Declines Memorial Day Parade Invitation

Connecticut Attorney General and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Richard Blumenthal has declined an invitation to march in Darien's Memorial Day parade, according a campaign spokesperson.

"Dick was extremely honored and humbled to be invited to march in the parade, but he is planning on spending Memorial Day with his family," communications director Maura Downes said in an interview.

Blumenthal had been offered the chance to appear in the parade by Darien Monuments & Ceremonies Commission chair Phil Kraft Wedensday night.

"If he finds himself with nowhere else to march on Memorial Day, I'd love to have Attorney General Blumenthal in our parade," Kraft told Patch.

Blumenthal also declined invitations to other public Memorial Day events and has withdrawn from a planned speaking engagement at Greenwich American Legion Post 29.

Downes said the reasons for canceling were twofold: his son, Matthew Blumenthal, will be returning home on leave from the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, and he did not want to distract from the purpose of the occasion.

"He is committed to keeping the focus of Memorial Day weekend on veterans," Downes said. "He believes that it's a solemn occasion and a time that should be spent 100 percent honoring the men and women in the armed forces that have given their lives in defense of our country." 

The attorney general has been fending off controversy since the New York Times highlighted several of his public statements indicating he had served in Vietnam, when in fact his stint in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves took place stateside.

Blumenthal expressed regret over the statements in a May 18 press conference and later in a more direct apology distributed to members of the press.

"On a few occasions, I have misspoken about my service, and I regret that, and I take full responsibility," Blumenthal said at the conference. "But I will not allow anyone to take a few misplaced words and impugn my record of service to this country. I served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, and I am proud of it."

Kraft, who is also the commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Darien Post #6933, said that the invitation was not intended as a campaign stunt and that it was in line with past offers to elected officials.

"I'm not making this huge political statement," he added. "I'm just making it known that our offer always stands."