Where Heroes Are Remembered: Connecticut Town Greens & Memorial Day Traditions

As Memorial Day approaches, I find myself reflecting on the role our town greens play in honoring those who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice. As the owner of American Landscape & Lawn Science, I’ve had the privilege of providing lawn care services for some of these sacred spaces across Eastern Connecticut for over 41 years. There’s something deeply moving about caring for the same grounds where communities gather to honor our fallen heroes.

Recently, I watched this fascinating discussion with Chris Wigren, Deputy Director of Preservation Connecticut, about our state’s town greens. It reminded me how these spaces are more than just patches of grass—they’re the beating hearts of our communities, especially during times of remembrance. With over 170 town greens across Connecticut, each tells a unique story of our shared history and values.

The Sacred Ground of Connecticut’s Town Greens

Connecticut’s town greens weren’t always the manicured, peaceful spaces we know today. As Chris Wigren explains, many started as multi-purpose areas serving various community needs. Some were marketplaces, others militia training grounds, and many—like New Haven’s green—were even burial grounds.

What strikes me is how these spaces have evolved while maintaining their role as centers of civic life. Our team at American Landscape & Lawn Science understands this dual purpose when we maintain these areas. We’re not just cutting grass; we’re preserving living monuments.

In towns like Norwich and Madison where we service many properties, the town greens exemplify the classic New England design. These greens require specific care techniques—something we’ve refined through our partnership with the University of Connecticut Soil Testing Labs to ensure we’re using the right approach for these historic spaces.

Memorial Day: When Town Greens Transform

Memorial Day brings a special transformation to our town greens. What might be a casual picnic spot or concert venue most of the year becomes hallowed ground. Flags appear, monuments are adorned with wreaths, and communities gather in solemn remembrance.

Having serviced greens in Norwich, I’m particularly drawn to Chelsea Parade, which began as a militia parade ground. There’s something fitting about how spaces once used to train soldiers now honor their sacrifice. Our team takes extra care in the weeks leading up to Memorial Day, ensuring these grounds are pristine for ceremonies.

The connections between these spaces and military service run deep. Every Memorial Day, I’m reminded why we use water-based, eco-friendly treatments on these greens. When children sit on the grass during ceremonies or veterans stand at attention, they’re not exposed to harsh chemicals. It’s our small way of protecting those who gather to honor those who protected us.

Each Green Tells a Different Story

What fascinates me most about Connecticut’s town greens is their diversity. As Chris Wigren points out, some are classic squares like Guilford’s, while others are long and narrow like New Milford’s. Lebanon boasts Connecticut’s largest town green—stretching about a mile long—while small triangular greens like Norwich’s Little Plain make use of leftover space.

This diversity presents unique challenges for maintenance. The soil composition, drainage patterns, and grass varieties differ across Eastern Connecticut. That’s why our team conducts comprehensive soil testing for every property—even historic greens—to develop custom treatment plans. With over 3,000 active clients and a 90% program retention rate, we’ve developed specialized approaches for each type of green we service.

Preserving History Through Proper Care

Lebanon’s green stands out to me as a perfect example of how maintenance approaches should respect historical context. Unlike the manicured appearance of other greens, Lebanon’s remains somewhat wild, with parts still used for hay cutting—a throwback to its agricultural roots.

This presents a maintenance challenge that our team embraces. For areas like this, we adjust our organic-based lawn care program to maintain the natural character while ensuring the space remains usable for Memorial Day ceremonies. Our dual-action compost-based fertilizers strengthen root systems without forcing the “golf course look” that would be historically inappropriate.

During my 41 years in this business, I’ve seen how proper care of these spaces requires more than just technical knowledge—it requires understanding their significance to the community. That’s why we’re proudly involved in the local Chamber of Commerce and sponsor many events held on these greens throughout the year.

Looking Ahead: Memorial Day 2025

As Memorial Day approaches, I’m reminded of the crabgrass deadline that coincides with this time of year. By the end of April, we need to have applied our first crabgrass control to ensure town greens stay pristine through summer ceremonies. This is particularly important for greens that host Memorial Day parades, where heavy foot traffic can stress the turf.

Our All-American Lawn Care Program (aptly named, I realize) includes two applications of crabgrass control—ensuring protection through the spring and summer months. This provides over 97% effectiveness in preventing crabgrass, which is why less than 3% of our customers ever need additional treatments.

For the town greens we service, we also apply our liquid organic aeration before Memorial Day events. This aerates the soil 7-10 inches deep (compared to just 2-3 inches with traditional core aeration), helping these spaces withstand the increased foot traffic during ceremonies without becoming compacted.

Our Commitment to Connecticut’s Historic Spaces

As a business with deep roots in Eastern Connecticut, we take special pride in maintaining the spaces where our communities honor service members. Our experienced team members—many who have been with us for decades with very low staff turnover—understand that when they’re working on a town green, they’re caring for more than just grass.

Every application of our water-based, environmentally safe treatments on these greens is performed with precision and respect. We understand that these spaces will host families, veterans, and community members, so our treatments are designed to be immediate entry—once dry, which typically takes only 1-2 hours, the green is ready for the community to gather.

Whether it’s Guilford’s beautiful historic square, Lebanon’s sprawling green, or the smaller memorial spaces throughout Norwich, Madison, and other towns we service, our team approaches each with the same dedication to excellence that’s earned us over 100 five-star reviews from satisfied customers.

This Memorial Day, I hope you’ll visit your local town green to honor those who’ve served. And as you stand on that well-maintained grass, know that there are dedicated professionals like our team at American Landscape & Lawn Science working behind the scenes to ensure these historic spaces remain beautiful, safe, and ready to host our most meaningful community traditions.

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Steve Bousquet is the owner of American Landscape & Lawn Science, serving Eastern Connecticut with organic-based lawn care for over 41 years. For more information about our lawn care programs or to request a free evaluation, call us at (860) 642-9966 or visit lawnscience.com.