On a day that holds so many complex emotions for so many people, the veterans of Newtown gathered, offering support, an ear, and a hand to hold on Veterans Day, Monday, November 11. Those who attended the ceremony at VFW Post 308 got to partake in something special: the building of a community to uplift and support some of our nation’s most fearless citizens.

Among those who addressed the crowd during the ceremony were First Selectman Jeff Capeci, State Representative Mitch Bolinsky, and State Senator Tony Hwang. Also in attendance was post commander Phillip Lombardo. The speeches were short, but none missed words, and none undermined the importance of our nation’s troops.

The first to speak was Capeci. He shared with the crowd, “We honor the brave souls who left the safety of their homes, traveled to distant lands, and faced the perils of conflict so that we, your progeny, can continue to live in a land of liberty and opportunity. You are veterans, gathered at VFW Post [308], and are the embodiment of sacrifice and dedication.”

Capeci continued, “You have faced adversity, witnessed the ravages of war, and carried the heavy burden of defending our way of life. Your commitment to duty, honor, and country is not unnoticed, and today I stand before you with a heart full of gratitude.”

Capeci ended his speech by reminding those in the crowd that “freedom is not free, and it is because of your bravery that we continue to live in the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

Bolinsky followed by saying, “To all our veterans, thank you so much for serving our country and protecting our freedom. Thank you for bravely going and doing what you’ve been called to do so that we can safely go about our lives and be free to do what we do every day.”

Hwang spoke next. He touched on the recent political divide due to the most recent presidential election. Addressing his constituents and the veterans in the crowd, Hwang said, “Today, we are reminded of a simple but powerful truth: that despite our differences, we are all bound by a shared love for this country and by the freedoms we hold dear.”

Hwang said, “Our veterans have put everything on the line, standing guard so that we might live in a nation where liberty and justice aren’t just ideals but practiced realities. They show us, every day, that we are stronger together and they remind us that unity is what makes us resilient and resolute … as we honor their service today, let’s also honor their legacy by choosing to stand as one people.”

Lombardo was the last to speak. As a veteran himself, he spoke on a critical issue: veteran suicide rates. He shared with the crowd that he lost several friends from the service to suicide. It was a collective moment for those in the crowd to feel with Lombardo and remember just how much veterans give.

“I want to make sure every veteran knows that they can come to a place like this. Befriend us, get our numbers, come to these events … we are going to be opening the Veteran Lounge here, which will be open to veterans at any time, and they can come here … I want to make sure there’s a safe haven for all of us that have gone overseas … You’re never alone.”

Lombardo also took this moment to share a piece of thanks to the families, “I want to thank you for putting up with us. I know we’re not easy, I know we come home from war. I know sometimes we’re a little rough around the edges after our deployments. I know you’ve been sad, you’ve cried, you’ve lost someone that’s dear to you that served. And I want to thank you, from the bottom of my heart, and I’m sure all the veterans can agree.”

Following the ceremony, VFW Post 308 served food to all those who came.

Readers, remember what Capeci said, “freedom is not free.” Thank family members, neighbors, and friends for their service and offer support when possible. From the staff at The Newtown Bee, Happy Veterans Day.

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Reporter Sam Cross can be reached at sam@thebee.com.