Marzolf to lead 2010 Memorial Day Parade

It's not everyday that you hear about yourself in a church sermon.

But that's exactly what happened to Norwalk resident Phil Marzolf earlier this month as Marzolf was sitting in East Norwalk's Christ Episcopal Church.

The Norwalk Veterans Memorial Committee had previously asked Rev. Frank Wismer, Vicar of Christ Episcopal, to deliver the news that the committee had selected Marzolf as Grand Marshal of the 2010 Norwalk Memorial Day Parade.

"Out of the blue in the middle of church service, I found out I was chosen," Marzolf said in an interview with the Citizen. "It's quite an honor. I'm not representing myself, but instead all of the veterans who have served. I'm just one guy representing millions of them out there."

Marzolf, now 79, served as a combat corpsman for the First Marine Division of the U.S. Navy for four years between 1950 and 1954. He was wounded during an artillery barrage in Korea in 1952. Later, on Vieques Island off the Puerto Rican coast, Marzolf contracted malaria and dengue fever while training marines fresh out of boot camp. He is now a member, and past commander, of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Homer Lee Wise Chapter 1932 in Darien.

Though he "hardly ever talks about" the horrors he witnessed during the Korean War, he is adamant all service men and women, past and present, should be remembered for the unfathomable hardships they encountered.

"You can't talk about these things unless you've been there and understand it. To me, the guys that have been there, don't talk," he said.

Now, Marzolf and his wife Barbara spend time with their "huge" family and enjoy the city Marzolf has lived in since 1984.

"I like the boating, the beaches, the water," he said. "I've been sailing since I was 13 years old.

A retired sailing instructor, Marzolf served nine years as director of junior sailing for the Shore and Country Club in Norwalk.

And while he "used to ski an awful lot," he now enjoys a less aggressive lifestyle, where he is active in Christ Episcopal Church.

"My faith in God is important to me," he said. "I have very strong feelings about that."

Marzolf also volunteers in the community.

Above all else, he believes that Memorial Day should not be a holiday lost to rampant commercialism.

"Memorial Day is considered by many people to be a day for a picnic," he said. "I don't know how much attention is still given to the people serving now, and the people who have served in past conflicts."

That unflappable sense of patriotism is one of Marzolf's many positive attributes, according to David Cole, vice chair of the Norwalk Veterans Memorial Committee.

"He also happens to be just a wonderful person," Cole said.

"He's just a top notch citizen in every way."

From Marzolf's humble nature to his investment in his church and the city of Norwalk, Cole said Marzolf was an overwhelming choice for Grand Marshal.

"He's as honest as the day is long," Cole added.

Along with a new Grand Marshal, this year's parade will feature a couple additions, according to Cole. A band of Continental Army reenactors will march -- a first for the parade -- as will the governor's horse guard.

And they will all follow the lead of a man who has dedicated his life to leading others.

"Don't make me out to be a hero," Marzolf said.

"I'm not. I'm just one guy they selected."