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Ceremony Honors Area Veterans

Voices - 7/12/2017

SOUTHBURY - The Southbury Senior Center proudly pays tribute to the men and women in the military with an annual Veterans Wall of Honor Ceremony.

This civic celebration honors and celebrates the brave men, women and families who pay the ultimate sacrifice for liberty and freedom. It is intended to thank the living veterans for their dedication and loyal service to our country.

This year, the ceremony took place on June 14, which is also Flag Day and the official birthday of the U.S. Army.

The celebration began with a coffee hour and continental breakfast.

Town of Southbury Municipal Veteran Liaison and Director of Senior Services Tamath K. Rossi opened the ceremony by thanking the veterans in attendance for their dedication and service to our country.

The event continued with the posting of the national colors by the American Legion Post 147, the American Legion Post 204 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1607.

State Rep. Arthur O'Neill, R-69, attended the ceremony and spoke about honoring the sacrifices the soldiers made for our country in the name of freedom and democracy, the very foundation of the ceremony.

Sherri Vogt, Army veteran and Veterans Outreach and Constituent Services district aide at Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty's office, had prepared to speak about the birthday of the Army and Flag Day, but after the shooting that morning in Washington, D.C., she decided to speak from her heart instead.

John Turk, U.S. Army, Commander of American Legion Post 147 gave the keynote address, which was followed by the induction of 21 veterans to the Veterans Wall of Honor by senior center coordinator Katrina Anderson.

The new additions bring the number of Wall of Honor inductees to approximately 115 veterans.

The town of Southbury encourages each of its nearly 1,600 veterans to visit the senior center and fill out an application to be honored and thanked at next year's ceremony.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, all were invited to enjoy lunch, which was sponsored in part by the American Legion Posts 147 and 204 and the VFW Post 1607.