23-year Air Force veteran Howard Dixon serves as grand marshal for Norwalk Memorial Day Parade
During all that time, Dixon says he never really got nervous, because "you have been trained to do that sort of activity, so you conduct yourself accordingly."
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Howard Dixon, a Norwalk resident who spent 23 years as a member of the Air Force, served as grand marshal for the 2025 edition of Norwalk's annual Memorial Day parade.
During his time flying, Dixon says his missions took him "all around the world, every place there was and some places no one else wanted to go."
During all that time, Dixon says he never really got nervous, because "you have been trained to do that sort of activity, so you conduct yourself accordingly."
He says his first time serving as grand marshal of a parade was a different story though. There is no training for that.
"Oh, I think he's pretty nervous today," laughed Dixon’s wife, Irene Dixon.
"Maybe," he agreed. "Maybe more so than the aviation aspect, yeah."
Since retiring from the Air Force, Dixon has continued to serve - both founding a tactical training service used by the U.S. and its allies and also acting as a fire commissioner in Norwalk.
"In our opinion, he's a hero," said Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling.
Because of that, Dixon has been asked to serve as grand marshal for the parade a few times before, but every time he declined.
"First, I said, ‘Maybe there's someone else in the community we can honor,’" said Dixon.
"He's not one to bring attention to himself," Irene explained. "He always does things, but never wants recognition, so I think this kind of embarrasses him a little."
Finally, this year, Dixon said yes, but only after some peer pressure.
"My wife said I should probably do it, and she asked Mayor Rilling," said Dixon.
"And I said (to Irene), ‘Tell Howard he's going to do the grand marshal,’ and I guess that put him over the edge," laughed Rilling.
In the end for Dixon, it was about having another opportunity to serve. He says he hoped that even if it was only for a minute, he would be able to remind everyone he passed during the parade about the true reason for Memorial Day.
"I think they do need to somehow be schooled - is the better reference to that - whether it be through parental education in classrooms, or just through parades like this, that a lot of people gave their lives for us to be as free as we are today," Dixon said.
"That's the type of person he is," added Rilling. "Give because you love your city, your country, and that's what it's all about."
Dixon says being the grand marshal is an honor - and his family plans to make sure the commemorative sash is displayed somewhere special in their house.
