Hartford —  Groton resident John "Jack" Casey Jr. will be one of the 2016 Parade Marshals for the 17th annual Connecticut Veterans Parade on Nov. 6.

New England's largest veterans parade will step off at 12:30 p.m. near the State Capitol Building and proceed through downtown Hartford, rain or shine.

Casey is an assistant state captain and current board member of the Connecticut Patriot Guard Riders, founded to maintain the dignity of funerals of members of the armed forces, veterans, firefighters and police. His current mission is to collect photos of every Connecticut resident who died in the Vietnam War, giving a face to their courage and ultimate sacrifice.

A wreath-laying ceremony will be held at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch prior to the parade, at 11:30 a.m.

Sponsorship dollars and donations from individuals are essential to help pay for the operations of the parade. They include corporations, organizations, and grass roots collection efforts. This year, in an effort to enable individuals to support the parade in an affordable way, organizers are hosting a new 17forVETS contributions campaign, inviting the public to donate $17 in honor of the parade's 17th anniversary. Facebook and Tweeter social media, using (hashtag) #17forVETS, is helping to spread the word.

Financial contributions of $17 or any amount to support the parade can be made online at

www.CTVeteransParade.org. Checks may be written to "Connecticut Veterans Fund" and mailed to:

Connecticut Veterans Fund

1245 Farmington Ave.

No. 338

West Hartford, CT  06107