PHOTO BY ANTHONY MULLIN
The rifle American Legion Post 50.
ANSONIA — Long before he answered the call to serve his country, U.S. Navy Veteran Dennis Salzer was taught about the sacrifice of others.
“When I was a little boy, I’d get out and bed and my father would say, ‘Denni, you know it’s Pearl Harbor Day,” Salzer said. “He didn’t elaborate, but I knew it was important because it was important to him.”
Salzer’s father was a World War II veteran with the U.S.I Navy. Salzer, like so many Americans, followed in his dad’s footsteps.
“It’s part of who we are, it’s part of our culture and part of our value system to be here,” Salzer said.
Salzer, of Shelton, was among about 20 other fellow Valley veterans, city officials and members of the public who gathered at Ansonia City Hall Tuesday morning to mark the 81st anniversary of Pearl Harbor.
The annual ceremony pays homage to the more than 2,400 American soldiers killed, and nearly 1,200 wounded, during the unprovoked bombing attack by the Japanese on U.S. military bases in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on Dec. 7, 1941. The ‘Day of Infamy’ triggered the start of WWII changed the course of history.
Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti spoke about why it’s important to reflect and remember the lives lost.
Cassetti served as both host and guest speaker for the 30-minute ceremony, with former Aldermanic President Peter Danielczuk serving as the emcee.
“Ansonians have always unselfishly arose to answer the call to defend this nation and her allies to make the future safe for the generations before us,” Cassetti said. “These young men and women sacrificed and fought not for conquest or revenge but rather they fought with a unity of purpose, for principle, for decency and for fidelity.”
Cassetti took time to highlight one of 113 Ansonians who died during various conflicts. Robert Olson, a soldier in the U.S. Navy, answered the call of duty to fight for America following Pearl Harbor, and enlisted in 1942. He was killed in battle in 1944. His mother, Helen, worked to get Broad Street renamed to Olson Drive in her son’s honor.
A fellow U.S. Navy Veteran Paul Grammer, of Beacon Falls, attended the ceremony and believes it’s important to mark the day, especially for the younger generations.
“When I first joined the Navy I went to Pearl Harbor, and I used to walk around and I could see the bullets in the buildings,” Grammer said. “It was amazing, theirs is a lot of history and a lot of people forget about what happened, and they need to remember.”
Both Salzer and Grammer enjoyed seeing and listening to students from Ansonia High School’s choir, who opened the ceremony with the Pledge of Allegiance, as well as performed musical selections that included “America the Beautiful” and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.”
Deacon Larry Yergeau of Assumption Church lauded the veterans for their service.
“Even on this day of sadness, we say ‘hallelujah,’ Yergeau said. “The service of our brothers and sisters in arms have given us a great gift- hope, hope for tomorrow, hope for your children and grandchildren and their children and grandchildren that God will continue to bless us and watch over us.”
While the ceremony took place inside City Hall this year, due to rain, instead of outside at Veterans Park, the firing squad from American Legion Post 50, still shot three rounds outside, as the crowd inside saluted. And as Post Commander Michael Heise played “Taps” on his bugle, all in attendance held their hands over their hearts in remembrance.
Photo By Anthony Mullin
Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti.
