Homesteads Flag Dedication Honors Veterans Day

By Nancy K. Crevier

When Navy veteran and life member of the Veterans of Foreign War Frank Cordomeyer moved to Homesteads in Newtown last spring, he noticed something was missing: a flag. “I was looking around, and I didn’t see a flagpole. So I kept asking if we could get one,” said Mr Cordomeyer. Resident services coordinator Kerry Cardinal and community relations coordinator Gary Benzel heard Mr Cordomeyer’s request often enough that they promised Mr Cordomeyer that there would be a flagpole on the grounds of Homesteads by Veterans’ Day.

True to their word, on Friday, November 10, one day before Veterans’ Day, Mr Cordomeyer gathered with several dozen residents out front of Homesteads to honor resident veterans and to witness the dedication of a new flagpole.

In opening remarks to the crowd, Mr Benzel noted that it is because of veterans and the sacrifices they have made that Americans are able to enjoy so many of the freedoms taken for granted.

Before the Air Force Junior ROTC of Danbury High School raised the new American flag and a POW flag donated by Mr Cordomeyer’s home VFW Post 2718 in Franklin Square, Long Island, Mr Cardinal greeted the residents and guests and Cadet Steve Tullino, 2nd in Command, then read off the names of those Homesteads residents who are veterans of the armed forces. Those residents include Frank Cordomeyer, Navy; Phil Arena, Air Transit Command; Jim Boughton, Naval Reserve; Douglas Coy, Air Corps; Michael Defrancesco, Army; Larry Ermler, Navy; Stephen Mortifoglio, Navy; Frank Musnicki, Navy; and Ed Thater, Army Air Force. All of the men are veterans of World War II.

Cadet Tullino also explained the Air Force Junior ROTC program. Members of the Junior ROTC are not required to serve in the armed forces, but rather are involved in service projects and perform in drill competitions, all the while honing their leadership capabilities. “ROTC members,” said Cadet Tullino, “are polite, responsible, and hardworking.”

Guest speaker First Selectman Herb Rosenthal spoke briefly, thanking the veterans for preserving those liberties and freedoms enjoyed by citizens of the United States. He also read from the 2006 Veterans’ Day proclamation issued by President George W. Bush. The proclamation, which emphasizes paying tribute to those who serve, “Sums up why we are here,” said Mr Rosenthal.

In closing, Mr Rosenthal urged all present to, “Keep in thoughts and prayers those who are in service in Afghanistan and Iraq.”

As the crowd dispersed, Mr Cordomeyer came forward to thank the Homesteads administrators who had made possible this special flag dedication. “It’s a good thing,” he said.