This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
08/20/2019 12:00 AMA special state ceremony in North Branford became the latest in a line of several in Connecticut held this year to honor, recognize and thank area men and women who served in the military during the Vietnam War era.
On July 29, a sizeable crowd was on hand to pay tribute to a total of 56 North Branford Vietnam veterans who attended the recognition ceremony. Each veteran was called up to the front of the stage to receive a special State of Connecticut citation and Vietnam Veteran’s pin presented by Connecticut Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz and the state’s Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Thomas Saadi; together with congratulations from local leaders and representatives.
In addition to Bysiewicz and Saadi, dignitaries attending and sharing words of thanks with the veterans included North Branford’s State Senator Christine Cohen (D, District 12), North Branford’s State Representative Vincent Candelora (R, District 86), North Branford Town Manager Michael Paulhus and Rev. Vance Taylor of North Branford Congregational Church, who gave the invocation. The event was taped by Totoket TV https://www.totokettv.org/
Taylor shared with Zip06/The Sound a photo of Vietnam era veteran Michael Vetro, taken by his wife, Doreen Vetro, as he received his award from Bysiewicz on July 29. Taylor said he was honored to give the day’s invocation and to be able to individually greet and thank each veteran on July 29.
“Paying tribute to Vietnam veterans, as Lt. Gov. Bysiewicz explained, carried an especial significance, since so many had returned from the war only to often be ignored and dishonored at home,” said Taylor.
During the ceremony, Bysiewicz also thanked the town of North Branford, including Paulhus and Town Clerk Lisa Valenti, “...for all of the hard work they put in to find each of our deserving veterans.”
The town’s police and fire department color guard, led by Fire Chief William Seward III on bagpipes, presented the colors at the start of the ceremony. Paulhus gave a welcome on behalf of the Town and Mayor Michael Doody, who was very disappointed that he was unable to attend due to business out of town. Paulhus also thanked the Lt. Governor for bringing the opportunity to recognize these important veterans to North Branford.
“Welcome and thank you, Lt. Governor. We wouldn’t be here without you,” said Paulhus. “This is an opportunity we’re happy to be part of.”
Saying she welcomed the day’s distinguished guests and most importantly, “...you, the veterans,” in the audience, Bysiewicz thanked the veterans for their service and then introduced them to Saadi, who she said works daily on behalf of the state’s veterans statewide.
“Governor Lamont and I are so proud of the work that he does every day on behalf of the more the 250,000 veterans we have in the state of Connecticut,” said Bysiewicz.
“It’s an honor for me to be able to participate in this ceremony. I am privileged, each day, to lead an agency with the mission of serving those who have served,” Saadi told the audience. “Unfortunately, at times, this nation has forgotten and failed to take up the mantle of supporting our veterans and their families. As so many of you know in this audience, that especially was the case of Vietnam veterans.”
Saadi held up a 1st Cavalry Airmobile Division patch his cousin had worn during his military service in Vietnam. He said his cousin gave it to him when he was about eight years old.
“As I grew up, I learned that, after surviving a protracted, unconventional and unpopular war, he returned not to parades and thank-you’s; but to insults and attacks,” said Saadi.
Several veterans in the audience took up an invitation from Bysiewicz to speak about their service during that era. Then, each of the 56 veterans were called up individually to receive a certificate and pin, and take a photograph with the leaders there to honor them.
“Thank you all so much,” Bysiewicz told them. “We are so grateful for your service to our beautiful state and our great country.”