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06/23/2018 08:12 AMOn Flag Day, June 14, a total of 116 American flags bearing the names of local heroes were formally installed during a ceremony in front of Town Hall that attracted its largest attendance to date.
The field of 12" x 18" American flags will flutter through July 4 to honor local military and first responders, thanks to the efforts of Northford Women's Club and North Branford Women's Club. Organized by branches of the military at the base of the flag pole at Town Hall, each flag is personalized with name and rank, service branch and dates of service on a white ribbon.
On June 14, VFW member, military veteran and Flag Day event co-organizer Chuck Larkins served as master of ceremonies for over 25 in attendance. North Branford Fire Chief William Seward III marched as bagpiper for the ceremony's opening presentation of the Colors, escorted by a North Branford Police Honor Guard and North Branford Boy Scout Troops 453 and 463. Resident Brandon Stimpson sang the National Anthem.
Town Manager Mike Paulhus greeted the audience, and remarks on the day where shared by Town Council member George Miller, Women's Club representative Liz Boissard and VFW member, military veteran and event co-organizer Joe Anderson, who also helped organize the event. Other honored guests were Deputy Mayor Rose Marie Angeloni and miltary veteran and VFW member Bill Savastano.
Boissard said the 116 flags purchased by residents, for a donation of $10 per flag, had raised $1200. One hundred percent of the funds raised will be donated to selected veterans' organizations. The clubs vote in September to determine distribution of the funds.
"Thank you, to the whole community, for your support," said Boissard.
Miller noted the U.S. Army also celebrates its birthday on June 14 and that sometimes lends a militaristic air to Flag Day.
"While I'm a proud Army veteran, I choose to think of Flag Day only as the day of the adoption of the flag. It is a symbol that I carry with me in my heart [even] if I don't physically line up to march behind it," said Miller, adding, "...the flag, for me, symbolizes the goals and the values of American society...these goals and values are all collective; they are not individual."
Miller listed several collective goals in the preamble of the Constitution, saying, "...they are for the common good. They are the reasons we gather together in our communities. These are at the heart of each waving flag."
Anderson noted Flag Day was instituted following an idea originated by a Wisconsin school teacher in 1885 and also explained the symbolism of the first American flag adopted by the country on June 14, 1777.
"We gather here today not only to celebrate the symbol of our nation, but to honor some of the good citizens who protect what that flag stands for: our liberty and freedoms, our unity as a nation, and the brave people who created this nation," said Anderson.