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PUTNAM — At noon Dec. 18 the “Wreaths Across America” ceremony will take place at the Veterans Memorial Park (rain location: The Farmers Market Pavilion on Kennedy Drive).
The community of Putnam along with towns throughout America will pause for a minute of silence in tribute and remembrance to the fallen, the Prisoners of War, the Missing in Action and to honor those who have served and are serving.
The Putnam ceremony is coordinated by the Mayotte-Viens American Legion Post #13 and the Albert J. Breault VFW Post #1523. The members of the Legion and VFW are encouraging the public to attend the ceremony. National Wreaths Across America Day is a free, non-political, community event, open to all people.
The mission of “Wreaths Across America” is to “Remember and Honor those who served, those who gave their lives in defense of our country, those who are serving today and to teach our children the value of freedom.”
Following the minute of silence at exactly noon, the program will open with remarks from Michael Rocchetti, senior vice commander of American Legion Post #13, and the singing of the National Anthem by Army National Guard Specialist and American Legion Post #13 member, Emily Lajoie. In the presence of the combined Honor Guards of the American Legion Post #13 and VFW Post #1523, wreaths will be laid in memory of those who served and are serving in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard and Merchant Marines. An individual wreath will be laid in remembrance of the 93,129 service personnel from all branches whose last known status was either Prisoner of War or Missing in Action.
Reflections will be offered by Putnam Deputy Mayor and Post #13 member, Roy Simmons; American Legion Post #13 and District 4 Past Commander Ronald P. Coderre; and VFW Post #1523, Commander Hans Lowell.
The reflections will be followed by the tossing of a remembrance wreath into the Quinebaug River by American Legion’s Rocchetti and the VFW’s Lowell. The ceremonial wreath tossing will be followed by Taps performed by Tyler Eddy of Putnam.
After the closing of the ceremony, the Honor Guard will disburse to local cemeteries and bridges where they will honor veterans by placing wreaths at each location.
The program is coordinated by the two service organizations in cooperation with Town of Putnam’s Recreation Department.
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