Newtown Pauses To Honor Those Who Served The Nation

By Jan Howard

Newtown veterans and residents paused at 11 am on November 11 in honor of all veterans, past and present, who have served their country.

In Veterans’ Day ceremonies Tuesday at Veterans Park on the corner of Route 25 and Mile Hill Road, representatives of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 308 and American Legion Post 202 placed a wreath, flowers, and a flag in memory of fallen servicemen and women and honored living members of all branches of the service.

Speakers included First Selectman Herb Rosenthal, State Representative Julia Wasserman, and Don Monckton, American Legion Post 202 commander and adjutant of VFW Post 308.

Rep Wasserman, a veteran of the Korean War, said she was proud to share her thoughts regarding the sacrifices made by servicemen and women and to celebrate a new generation of heroes “who join the ranks of those honored today.”

She said the servicemen and women who protect our country today “deserve our thanks,” pointing to the roles they have performed and continue to perform in Afghanistan and Iraq and to protect us from terrorism in our country.

“I thank our future veterans for their dedication,” she said, noting they have brought hope and freedom to countries where they did not exist. “We say thanks to all veterans, past, present, and future.”

Mr Rosenthal offered a history of Veterans’ Day, which was originally called Armistice Day to celebrate the end of World War I. Its name was later changed to Veterans’ Day in honor of all veterans who have served their country.

He noted in his speech that no matter what an individual’s feelings about the war in Iraq and the current administration’s handling of the postwar period, “We must not let our beliefs keep us from supporting the troops.”

Mr Monckton, in honoring the 27 million living veterans and those who have died, said, “We are a grateful nation and appreciate your sacrifices.”

A Blue Star Memorial Marker, donated by the Garden Club of Newtown and Newtown Lions Club, was dedicated during the service.

The history of the marker dates to 1944, when the garden clubs in New Jersey planted 8,000 flowering Dogwood trees along a highway to honor servicemen and women. The following year the New Jersey State Legislature designated it a Blue Star Drive. Thus began a project, which was adopted by the National Garden Clubs, Inc. The highway system now extends thousands of miles across all states, including Hawaii and Alaska.

To mark the designated highways, a Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker was designed, with the approval of the Department of Veterans Affairs, National Cemetery System, Washington, D.C. The icon of the blue star was chosen, representing the blue stars on service flags that were hung in windows throughout the United States, honoring those serving during World War II.

In 1951 the memorial was extended to include all men and women who had served, were serving, and would serve in the Armed Forces of the United States.