Ansonia third grader Skylar Evans knows that one day she can be whatever she decides to be.
It’s because of people like her grandfather that she has that freedom, Evans told a large crowd gathered next to Ansonia City Hall at the annual Veterans Day service.
“He explained that all veterans fought for America,” Evans said. “It means I can choose to be whatever I want.”
Several students spoke about Veterans Day at the service, which was held at 11 a.m. Thursday. Click here to view a photo slideshow from the event.
Each spoke of how Veterans Day touched their lives through their personal experience — especially those with family members that were veterans.
The students’ speeches evoked both laughter and tears from those in the audience.
Especially touching was a story from Ansonia High School senior Courtney Egan. She became overwhelmed with emotions while trying to speak of her grandfather — whom she referred to as ‘PaPa’ during the service.
Egan’s grandfather passed away in 2006. Egan spoke of her admiration for her grandfather and her respect for his service to his country.
She said that she did not understand during his funeral why they were shooting off guns. Her mother explained it was a military respect.
Egan will now always think of him during a veteran’s gun salute, she said.
Six Ansonia students made presentations about Veterans Day:
- Skylar Evans, grade 3
- Rebecca Carafo, grade 6
- Jessica Sember, grade 4
- Allie Ricci, grade 6
- Sanjida Shamim, grade 8
- Courtney Egan, grade 12
The Service
A gun salute to fallen soldiers of war was performed by a firing squad from St. Peter and St. Paul War Veterans. It was followed by Taps performed by Bill Richie of Post 50.
Deacon John Brady of Assumption Church performed the opening invocation and later closed the service with the Benediction.
Also, the National Anthem was performed by the Joseph A. Doyle Senior Center Chorus that later performed God Bless America and America the Beautiful.
Master of Ceremony was Patrick Henri, a member of American Legion Post 50 and the U.S. Navy Reserves.
Jack Granatie, American Legion Post 50, performed introductions and addressed the crowd about Veterans Day.
He told the attendants to honor vets, hire and train returning vets, help homeless vets and above all to not “underestimate the power of simply saying ‘thank you’.”
Granatie also made special note of contributions by women in the armed services.
“Women are major contributors to our military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan and many have given their lives in the War on Terrorism,” Granatie said. “VA must recognize the unique needs of our women veterans. They need to adequately treat breast and cervical cancer as well as trauma that resulted from domestic violence, sexual harassment and assault. America is home to 1.2 million women veterans and they deserve our support.”
Ansonia Mayor James T. Della Volpe urged residents to maintain a continual reverence for American veterans.
“We have to honor our veterans for patriotism, love of country and battles fought,” Della Volpe said.
