Hartford — Five state residents and veterans of the U.S. military are grand marshals of the 2015 Connecticut Veterans Parade. The 16th annual procession will step off at 12:30 p.m. on Nov. 8 near the State Capitol Building.

The 2015 Parade Grand Marshals are (in alphabetical order):

• CSM Orlando A. Anderson of Manchester, a veteran of the U.S. Army, and current member of the Connecticut Army National Guard

• Retired Brigadier Gen. Joseph T. Perkins of Niantic, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and the Connecticut Army National Guard

• Retired Lt. Col. Kristopher E. Perry of Storrs, a veteran of both the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy

• Lance Corporal Paul Segarra of Berlin, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps

• Lt. Emily D. Trudeau of Cheshire, a veteran of the U.S. Navy

For the sixth consecutive year, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Veterans Day Committee has recognized the Connecticut Veterans Parade as one of the nation's official "Veterans Day Regional Sites." The parade is one of only 53 events across the U.S. recognized this year with this prestigious honor and the only one in Connecticut to be honored.

Sponsorship dollars are needed to help to pay for the operations of the parade. Sponsors can include corporations, organizations and individual residents who wish to make a contribution to the effort. Financial contributions 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.