Ansonia
American Legion Post 50 will hold a Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Veterans’ Park next to Ansonia City Hall on Main Street.
Chief Petty Officer Mark Adams of the Navy Reserve will speak at the ceremony.
Students from Ansonia schools will read their Veterans Day essays and the choir from the Ansonia Senior Center will perform.
Derby
(Information from the Electronic Valley)
A Veterans Day Observance will be conducted on the Derby Green on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. The annual service will be hosted by the John H. Collins Post # 24, American Legion of Derby.
Raymond Gagne, Junior Vice Commander of Post # 24 is in charge of the details. He indicated that the program, slated for about one hour would feature brief comments from the Commanders of the various Veterans Organizations within Derby and the Valley.
Gagne stated that the main purpose of the program is to celebrate and honor all veterans who have served in the Armed Forces. “The original holiday” said Gagne, “was called Armistice Day and it celebrated the signing of the Cease Fire or Armistice which ended World War I with Germany”.
“Today, we call it Veterans Day”, continued Gagne “and we continue the celebration aspect by honoring all those who have served in the Armed Forces of our country.”
The Guest Speaker for the day is Doctor Angelo Dirienzo, former Superintendent of School in Derby. Dr. Dirienzo is a Veteran and a member of the John H. Collins Post # 24. He served with the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1947 to 1951 and with the U.S.Army from 1954 to 1956.
Following the short speaking program, a wreath will be laid at the All Wars Monument on the Elizabeth Street side of the Green.
A luncheon will follow the ceremonies at the Post Home at 230 Caroline Street in Derby. All those in attendance, both Veterans and the General Public are invited and are welcome at the Post.
Oxford
Ceremonies begin at 10:30 a.m. American Legion Post #174 at 43 Oxford Road (Route 67).
Children will read speeches about veterans and there will be poetry readings as well.
Seymour
The American Legion is having its annual ceremony at 11 a.m. at French Memorial Park.
Shelton
American Legion Post 16 of Shelton will conduct its annual Veterans Day Program on Wednesday Nov. 11.
Ceremonies will begin 10:30 a.m. at The Veterans’ Memorial on The Shelton River Walk followed by an 11:30 a.m. service and luncheon at Post 16 on Bridgeport Ave.
“Although, over two hundred local veterans are expected to join Post 16 at the ceremonies in Shelton, there are many veterans still serving on active duty away from home,” said Post 16 Commander Dave Gallagher. “Post 16 will be sending a $500 check to Governor Rell’s Operation Home for the Holidays and a $500 check to The Military Order of the Purple Heart’s Operation Gift Card in support of the many veterans who are still serving on active duty.”
Operation Home for the Holidays is a fund-raising effort intended to raise $200,000 to hire a fleet of buses to bring about 700 Connecticut National Guard troops preparing for deployment at out-of-state bases home to Connecticut for the holidays.
Operation Gift Cards is designed to thank our wounded or injured troops (personally when possible) for their service to their country and for their sacrifice for freedom. “Thank You” kits, each including a $20 gift card enclosed in a specially designed thank you card. Since October 2005, the Operation Gift Cards’ 49 monthly visits have presented 7,430 thank you kits to our wounded troops.
Donations for “Operation Home for the Holidays” should be sent to the Connecticut National Guard Foundation Inc. 360 Broad Street, Box 53, Hartford, Connecticut 06105 – 3706. Checks should be made payable to “ CTNGFI. ”
For more i nformation about Operation Gift Card and how to donate, visit www.ctveterans.org or contact Al Meadows (203) 929‑3357 (e‑mail: al.meadows@snet.net).
A nation that forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten. Post 16, challenges all community organizations, to join us in supporting our Nation’s defenders.
