Monday’s West Hartford Memorial Day Parade was followed by a ceremony at the Veterans Memorial honoring the men and women who gave their lives for the United States.

West Hartford Memorial Day ceremony. May 25, 2015. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

By Katie Cavanaugh, Photos by Ronni Newton

On Monday West Hartford held a Veterans’ Memorial Ceremony honoring those soldiers who gave their lives for the United States.

The ceremony was held at the Veterans Memorial in West Hartford Center, immediately following the town’s annual Memorial Day Parade.

Elizabeth Lavelle, a senior at Conard High School, opened the ceremony by singing the National Anthem. Colors were presented by the honor guards of the West Hartford Fire and Police Departments, and together Mayor Scott Slifka and American Legion Commander Moe Fradette placed a wreath in the middle of the memorial.

Town Council Minority Leader Denise Hall spoke to a small crowd that gathered for the ceremony about the significance of the wreath’s placement. According to Hall, the wreath is placed in the middle of the memorial because that is where the town placed a collection of soil and water taken from battlefields around the country. It is said that American soldiers have died on each of those fields.

Hall also spoke about her family’s annual tradition of remembering fallen soldiers by decorating the graves of veterans buried in Fairview Cemetery with flags on the Saturday before Memorial Day. “For me, it is the most meaningful way to pay tribute to those who fought and died for our country,” said Hall.

The ceremony honored not only veterans who died in the service of the country, but also local veterans who have had a major impact on the community – including parade grand marshal Richard Hennessey. Hennessey served in both the Connecticut Air National Guard and the Air Force before coming back to West Hartford to raise his family. Hennessey ran the Memorial Day Parade for 30 years, laying the ground work for those who run it today.

The contributions of notable local veterans Jean Paul Berard, who died in 2014, and Pat Sinatro, who passed away just a few weeks ago, were also noted.

In addition to Slifka and Hall, many other town leaders were present at the Memorial Day ceremony to show their support and gratitude to our veterans. Among them were State Sen. Beth Bye, Deputy Mayor Shari Cantor, Town Council members Leon Davidoff, Judy Casperson, Burke Doar, and Harry Captain, and Board of Education member Rev. Terry Schmitt who gave the invocation, as well as members of West Hartford’s Commission on Veterans’ Affairs.

When Slifka stood at the podium to address the crowd of veterans and spectators, he talked about his grandfather, a World War II veteran.

Slifka spoke about the significance of talking to World War II veterans like his “Papa Frank,” because there are so few of them left. According to Slifka, there are currently 885,000 living veterans who fought in World War II, and they are now an average age of 92 years old.  He said that it is important and special to discuss the war with those who survived it while it is possible to do so.

“Since World War II, America has been led by those who fought in World War II,” said Slifka. “It’s been a remarkable run.”

Slifka left the crowd with the poem “Remember Them All” by West Hartford’s poet laureate, Christine Beck. “God bless our heroes, and God bless the town of West Hartford,” Slifka said to the crowd.

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Memorial wreath laid in the center of the Veterans Memorial West Hartford Memorial Day ceremony. May 25, 2015. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard senior Elizabeth Lavelle sings the National Anthem. West Hartford Memorial Day ceremony. May 25, 2015. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Minority Leader Denise Hall addresses the crowd. West Hartford Memorial Day ceremony. May 25, 2015. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

West Hartford Mayor Scott Slifka speaks to the crowd. West Hartford Memorial Day ceremony. May 25, 2015. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

West Hartford Memorial Day ceremony. May 25, 2015. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

West Hartford Fire Department Honor Guard. West Hartford Memorial Day ceremony. May 25, 2015. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

West Hartford Police Department Honor Guard. West Hartford Memorial Day ceremony. May 25, 2015. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Many veterans attended the ceremony. West Hartford Memorial Day ceremony. May 25, 2015. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Taps is sounded by a student from Sedgwick Middle School. West Hartford Memorial Day ceremony. May 25, 2015. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Taps is sounded by a bugler from King Philip Middle School. West Hartford Memorial Day ceremony. May 25, 2015. Photo credit: Ronni Newton