Community Corner

Ceremony Remembers Veterans Young and Old

A Wreaths Across America event was held in Rocky Hill on Saturday.

 

An event to honor the men and women who have served our country was held Saturday afternoon at the Col. Raymond Gates Veterans Cemetery.

The Wreaths Across America ceremony in Rocky Hill was one of over 600 events held across the country. There were 64 events in Connecticut on Saturday, which is the most in the United States.

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"What a great way to honor them (veterans) and bring them into our hearts in this season of giving," said Col. Tom Stefanko, who is the manager of the Office of Advocacy and Assistance. "Let's think about them all year long. This is another day to do that."

The events across the country marked the 20th anniversary of Wreaths Across America, which started in a small town in Maine. The purpose of the event is to teach children the value of freedom and to think about veterans every day.

Find out what's happening in Rocky Hillwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"This is an important and growing tradition," said Alice Ridgeway of Daughters of the American Revolution.

Over 400,000 wreaths were placed on soldiers' graves at hundreds of federal, state and private cemeteries throughout the country. Members of the 103rd Composite Connecticut Civil Air Patrol presented wreaths for all the branches of the military and one for the soldiers who are missing and prisoners of war who never came home.

In Rocky Hill, the event featured a performance of Taps, the singing of the national anthem by Ronald Lamb and the posting of the colors. The ceremony was lead by Cpt. David Stansfield.

Middlesex County Blue Star Mothers Vice-President Cathy Hodlin talked about two historic anniversaries and their monuments, the 70th anniversary of Pearl Harbor and the 10th anniversary of 9-11.

"As we enter this holiday season, let it be a time of remembering, giving thanks and receiving gifts," Holidn said. She added it is also a time to remember the soldiers' sacrifices and their service to this country.

"If not for their service, we would not have these freedoms today," she stated. "Everyone has an obligation to teach each other and what being an American is."

The members of the Civil Air Patrol represent a younger generation that love their country, Holidn, whose son is returning home from Afghanistan on Monday, discussed. She talked about how the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan had give this country the greatest number of young veterans ever.

"I would love to thank all our young people," she said.


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