A small but appreciative crowd assembled outside VFW Post 308 Wednesday morning for the post’s annual Veterans Day ceremony. As is longstanding tradition, the event began at 11 am.

Post Commander Paul Galiotti welcomed approximately 20 men and women to the parking lot of the post, where chairs had been set out safely distanced from each other. Many chose to stand, also standing an appropriate distance from each other in the unusually humid, muggy weather. With a pandemic still gripping the country, the November 11 crowd was small this year. Very uncomfortable weather, noted by a few of those who did show up, did not help to draw people out of their homes.

Nevertheless, Galiotti welcomed everyone to the observance, saying it was done to “honor the men and women who wear the uniforms, and made personal sacrifices while serving in the military.”

He formally opened the event by leading the Pledge of Allegiance. With no vocalist available this year, he and another post member then led the singing of the national anthem.

“We all know the lyrics,” Galiotti said, cueing a recording of the anthem on his cell phone and holding that to the podium’s microphone. “Come on, let’s all sing together.”

Special guests First Selectman Dan Rosenthal and State Representative Mitch Bolinsky each offered statements. Bolinsky spoke first, thanking those in front of him, including members of the post, its auxiliary, and its commander, “for allowing me the honor of addressing you on this, the 102nd Veterans Day.”

Noting that Veterans Day “originated as Armistice Day 101 years ago, on November 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I,” Bolinsky offered a very brief history of the observance.

“Veterans Day differs from Memorial Day. Everybody here knows that,” he continued. “I’m not sure that everybody in our society knows that.

“Today we pay tribute to all veterans, not just those who have passed,” he said. “We humbly say ‘Thank You’ to those of you who are still with us, and have served, and have made great sacrifices for this nation, the greatest nation on earth.”

In times of war or peace, veterans “are the life force behind the freedoms that we all hold dear.

“Freedom, as I say every single year,” Bolinsky noted, “is not free.”

As he spoke, the driver of a large truck traveling on South Main Street, just west of the post, honked the truck’s horn. The action drew laughter and a smattering of applause from the group.

“And there is support from one of our hard-working truck drivers,” Bolinsky said without missing a beat.

“We should all take a moment to thank every veteran we come across every day, not just today,” he said in closing. “God bless our heroes, God bless you, and God bless America.”

Rosenthal also opened his remarks by thanking the post’s members for hosting the annual service, and for “service men and women for their past and present sacrifice.”

Saying one of the nice things about his job is spending Veterans Day in local schools, the first selectman shared a story about last year’s event at Newtown High School. He had invited his friend, local dentist and US Army Reserve Captain Sean Lee, to deliver the keynote address, Rosenthal said.

Rosenthal recalled that Lee spoke about how he and his family had emigrated to this country from South Korea, and his desire to give back by joining the military, where he still actively serves.

On November 11 this year, Rosenthal said, Lee and his staff were spending the day offering free dental exams to veterans.

“Last Tuesday, while the world was focused on Election Day, I went to get a filling replaced,” Rosenthal said. “Just before the shot of Novocaine, I thanked Sean for providing the free clinic.

“He told me that he had been thinking about a way to give back after speaking last year, as if his military service wasn’t enough,” he added.

Rosenthal said he is always inspired “by the stories of average Americans doing extraordinary things in service to our nation.

“We are lucky to be Americans and at the root of all that we have — the freedoms and the privileges — is the sacrifice of our veterans.”

He thanked those before him “for loving our country and serving with pride and distinction so that we can all be free.”

Before offering his remarks, Galiotti asked for 11 seconds of silence, “in honor of all those souls who sacrificed their precious lives for our freedom.”

After the quiet moments, the commander reminded the morning’s guests that the intention of all members of VFW Post 308 is to offer continued support and aid to all returning veterans and their families.

“We will continue to build relationships within our town. We will strive to improve our society and to raise our children to become pillars of their community,” he said.

Whenever the country has called for its sons and daughters, he said, “the American patriot has always answered the call.

“Without the man and women of our armed forces, our nation would not exist,” he said. “They are the defenders of all of our freedoms. They stand tall and sacrifice their young precious lives on the battlefields all over the world, to protect the lives of all of our fellow Americans.”

Veterans Day is a time to honor everyone who ever wore a uniform of the United States Armed Forces, he noted.

“We are all fortunate to live in the greatest country on earth,” he said. “Since the Revolutionary War, right up to this present day, may we never forget the souls who watch down upon us on Veterans Day.”

Following applause, Galiotti said that this year’s ceremony would be done differently due to coronavirus. He laid down a wreath and flowers in front of a headstone near the podium where he was standing, but not before explaining the significance of each one.

A wreath is placed on behalf of Post 308 as a symbol of remembrance. A red carnation, he explained, is a tribute of devotion to the memory “of the heroic dead who have fallen in defense of the United States of America,” the commander said.

A white carnation is a symbol of purity.

“May future generations emulate the unselfish courage of those who fought for our freedom,” Galiotti said.

The blue carnation, he said, is an emblem of eternity.

“This color bespeaks life everlasting, thus we immortalize the brave deeds of all those who have given their lives for our cause,” he said.

Having placed the four elements on the ground, Galiotti offered a salute “to our comrades in the silent land beyond, wherever your mortal remains may rest, there the ground is hallowed. We offer this final salute.”

Galiotti and Rosenthal both noted that Newtown’s ceremony was held this year, despite COVID-19.

“While COVID has scuttled many events, I am glad we are here today to properly observe the occasion,” Rosenthal noted early in his remarks. “I’m really happy the VFW pushed ahead and gathered everyone this morning.

Likewise, Galiotti noted that the country “has experienced some very difficult times” due to the coronavirus.

“I’d like to thank each and every one of you for attending our ceremony,” he said.

The brief event concluded with a prayer read by Post 308 Chaplain Stephen Gribowsky, Jr.