Date: Fri 13-Nov-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Veterans-Day

Full Text:

Newtown Pauses To Remember The Veterans

(with photos)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The sun finally shone through the clouds at 11 o'clock Wednesday morning, just

in time for the start of the annual Veterans Day ceremony at the Soldiers &

Sailors monument on Main Street.

Don Monckton, past commander of Veterans of Foreign War Post (VFW) 308,

welcomed those who attended and asked them to remember those who left their

loved ones behind in order to defend the freedom all Americans enjoy today.

The ceremony was put on by members of the VFW Post 308 and the American Legion

Post 202, both of Newtown. Also on hand were the ladies auxiliary for both the

VFW and American Legion.

About two dozen residents also assembled at the 40-foot monument, the town's

focus of remembrance of those who served in all wars.

The veterans paid their respects by placing flowers and a wreath at the foot

of the monument.

This Veterans Day marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War I in

1918. At the time, WWI was known as "The War to ends all Wars." Had that been

the case, the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month would still be known

as Armistice Day, which it had been named by Congress in 1926. However, in the

following decade war broke out in Europe once again. A total of 16.5 million

American men and women took part. Of that number, 407,000 died in service.

Realizing that peace was equally preserved by veterans of World War II and

Korea, Congress requested to make this day an occasion to honor those who

served the United States in all wars. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower

signed a bill proclaiming November 11 as Veterans Day.

Members of the VFW Post 308 taking part included: Mr Monckton, David Peck,

commander, Burley Newman, Frank Furze and Robert Sadler. Those from the

American Legion Post 202 were: Bill Saren, commander, Howard Hueschkel, Boyd

Saxton, Bob O'Reilly and Mike Pelillo. VFW Ladies Auxiliary members were Jo

Ann Peck, president, Joyce Staudinger, Evelyn Urban, Robin Buchanan, Rose

Holland, Barbara Cabrael and Cheryl Lockwood. Also on hand was Alice Saxton,

president of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary.