Simsbury Honors Those Who Serve

As Simsbury honored those who serve Monday morning, it was more than just veterans and dignitaries that paid tribute. 

A group of Venture Scouts also presented "Troop 76 Remembers," a collection of stories of 104 people with a Simsbury connection, from the Revolutionary War to present, who made that ultimate sacrifice. Troop 76 began the project about a year ago. 

Copies were provided to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1926, the American Legion Post 84, Simsbury Public Library, Simsbury Free Library, and the Simsbury Historical Society. 

Mark Holowesko, adult project advisory to the troop, believes the book is one of a kind. 

"That is a very special book," said Bruce Elliott, Legion Post commander. "They spent a lot of time on it." 

The presentation of the book was just one aspect of the ceremony.

Sponsored by both the VFW and American Legion posts, it included many traditional Veterans Day tributes, including presentation of the colors, an invocation and benediction by Legion Chaplin Tom Cronin and renditions of the Star Spangled Banner and God Bless America led by students Katie and Tim Amarell. 

Deputy First Selectman Lisa Heavner provided salutations from the town and U.S. Marine Corps veteran and Post 1926 member Robert Kalechman the Veterans Day address. 

Kalechman recited from timeless tributes such as In Flanders Fields, provided some history to the holiday and spoke strongly about what he said is the lack of political support for young men and women returning from service with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other needs. 

He mentioned the recent suicide of former U.S. Marine Justin Eldridge in Waterford as a recent example of someone who needed better support services. 

He asked people to vote out any officials who failed to take action on such issues. 

"So in closing let me ask and behoove you to remember our veteran brothers who are there with PTSC, brain trauma, crying out for help and their calls falling on deaf ears of our elected officials." 

Near the end of the ceremony, Post 1926 member John Fox, who earlier had placed a POW-MIA flag, "retired it." After the benediction, the retirement of colors came to the tune of "Minstrel Boy," played by piper Nancy Fellinger. 

The Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Simsbury, provided refreshments.