Salute The Troops Ceremony

 Set For May 24 At VFW Hall

By Dottie Evans

The combat phase of the war with Iraq may be over, but thousands of troops remain in the Persian Gulf to keep the peace during this time of transition.

Many Connecticut troops are among the US servicemen and women defending the nation and its freedom here at home and around the globe. Meanwhile, fresh troops from Connecticut are awaiting deployment to Iraq. Others such as United States Army Specialist Richard Monckton of the 250th engineers, son of VFW Commander Don Monckton of Toddy Hill Road, are being demobilized and are set to come home. Spc Monckton expects to be in Newtown by next week and he will attend the Memorial Weekend celebration with his family.

Many national guardsmen such as Spc Monckton, who were called up for the war in Iraq, may have had to leave college or suffered other interruptions in their lives. This was because National Guard reserves that were called into training had to be ready to serve on the front lines.

“They have sacrificed in ways that ordinary people do not,” said Nancy Doniger, mother of United States Army Military Police Sergeant Colin Doniger, who is stationed in Germany.

Mrs Doniger and Commander Monckton are among those helping plan a Memorial Weekend celebration to honor the courage and self-sacrifice of US servicemen and women with a Salute the Troops ceremony set to take place Saturday, May 24.

The ceremony will begin at 10 am at the VFW Hall at 18 Tinkerfield Road off Route 25 and Mile Hill Road and will pay tribute to all the men and women who serve now or who have served, as well as honoring those who have died defending America in all the nation’s wars.

It honors those Connecticut soldiers who recently lost their lives in Iraq, as well.

William A. Cugno, Adjutant General of the Connecticut National Guard, will speak during the ceremony and he will bring along an Honor Guard, gun salute and the Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard, which is under his jurisdiction.

There will also be a military fly-over.

State Rep Julia Wasserman, who was a captain in the Army during the Korean conflict, will speak about her military service.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal, a Viet Nam veteran, will speak about his military experiences, as will Commander Monckton, also a Viet Nam veteran.

The Rev Steven Gordon of the Newtown Congregational Church will deliver the invocation and Rabbi Shaul Praber of Adath Israel will give the benediction.

Newtown High School students will provide patriotic music and sophomore Nicole Kaza will lead in singing the national anthem. Taps also will be performed.

Veterans and the families of servicemen and women will be requested to step forward so they can be recognized during the ceremony. VFW Post 308 and American Legion Post 202 will present wreaths for the war monuments.

The salute will take place rain or shine.

 “Just because it’s raining we shouldn’t slight our servicemen who have to serve regardless of the weather,” Commander Monckton said.

Nancy Doniger, who is organizing the event, can be reached at 426-8563 (home) or 203-926-2080, extension. 319 (work).