Wreaths Across America Honors Vets
By Robin Vinci | Editor at December 18, 2023 | 6:30 pm | Print
Around 100 people turned out to Fairview Cemetery Saturday culminating a months-long fundraising effort spearheaded by the Disabled American Veterans, Hardware City Chapter 8 to bring the national Wreaths Across America movement to New Britain for the first time.
More than 1,350 red bow-adorned holiday wreaths arrived in New Britain from the Maine-based non-profit organization Wreaths Across America, which honors service and sacrifice through the annual placement of memorial wreaths during the holiday season on veterans’ gravesites at Arlington National Cemetery and other sites across the country. This year, Fairview Cemetery joined a growing list of more than 900 participating cemeteries and military memorials nationwide taking part in Wreaths Across America Day.
U.S. Army Reserve Ambassador Carl Venditto of Southington, a retired U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Colonel who grew up in New Britain and was named Connecticut State Veteran of the Year in 2006, was guest speaker at ceremonies celebrating Wreaths Across America Day at Fairview Cemetery on Saturday.
“A wreath is a symbol of eternal life. It goes around and comes back. Evergreen represent the heart of people and love,” said Venditto. “The purpose of Wreaths Across America is to remember, honor and teach. New Britain remembers and honors very well.”
Venditto said people need to teach their children and grandchildren about veterans.
“We have to instill in our families a desire for military service and public service,” said Venditto. “A Mayor is comparable to a soldier. She does things that are good for the City.”
An army of local volunteers placed the wreaths on veterans’ gravesites at Fairview in advance of the noon ceremony.
“It’s incredible to see the pictures online, but to actually see it in person is wonderful. It’s a great tribute to those who have fallen,” said Mayor Erin Stewart. “We are indebted to their service. It’s a somber day, but a great day for the City of New Britain. Freedom is not free and I will never ever forget that.”
The ceremonies featured a wide assortment of local veterans groups and guest participants including Master of Ceremonies John Lynch, past commandant of the Marine Corps League, Hardware City Detachment 781; the Reverend Joseph Crowley of Saint Joseph’s Church, offered the invocation; New Britain Senior High School Madrigal Singers Jahira Flores, Gabriel Leardi, Charles Osborne and Cassandra Saxton, performed the National Anthem; New Britain Senior High School Marching Band members Lewis Robinson and Voshon Ashman, performed the cadence; the Marine Corps League Hardware City Detachment 781 Firing Detail; and New Britain Senior High School Marching Band members Lukasz Regucki and Kevin Griffin, who performed taps.
Participating color guards included those from the American Legion, Department of Connecticut; DAV Chapter 8; Franco-American War Veterans Post 26; Marine Corps League Hardware City Detachment 781; Polish Army Veterans/General Haller Post 111; Special Guerilla Unit Special Forces/Lao Veterans; and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 511.
As part of the ceremony, single remembrance wreaths were placed honoring those who served in each branch of the service as well as POWs/MIAs. Making these symbolic placements will be Andre St. Laurent (Army); First Sargent Carlos Xavier (Marines); Robert Smith (Navy); Michael Kardok (Air Force); Don Naples (Coast Guard); Tom Bozek (Merchant Marines); and Ann Targonski-Brown (POWs/MIAs).
