Wreaths Across America Day To Be Commemorated In New Britain

Press release from Wreaths Across America:

Dec. 11, 2020

Wreaths Across America, the nationally renowned movement to honor service and sacrifice which annually places millions of holiday wreaths on veteran gravesites across the nation, will be commemorated in New Britain on December 19 with a virtual ceremony featuring New Britain Mayor Erin E. Stewart available to the public via Facebook Live from Fairview Cemetery.

The ceremony begins at 12 noon and can be viewed by visiting the Wreaths Across America New Britain Facebook page’s live feed at www.facebook.com/wreathsfornewbritain/live/. Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, public attendance at the event is discouraged.

The Wreaths Across America New Britain Planning Committee made the difficult decision recently to both suspend placement of nearly 1,400 holiday wreaths on veteran gravesites at Fairview for this year, and to move this year’s ceremony to a virtual format due to the current resurgence of COVID-19. Only Planning Committee members and a limited number of special guests will take part, with social distancing in force for safety.

“Communities across the nation have had to wrestle this year with how to manage their local Wreaths Across America events. Here in New Britain, we have chosen in the interest of public safety to suspend mass placement of wreaths at Fairview, which is traditionally done by a large gathering of volunteers on Wreaths Across America Day,” said Dennis Taricani, Commander of the Disabled American Veterans, Hardware City Chapter 8 and one of the project’s key organizers. “We are excited about the virtual ceremony we have planned, to have Mayor Stewart joining us once again, and to be able to provide a live Facebook feed for the enjoyment of our supporters and the public.”

Added Mayor Stewart, “While we will all miss the compelling sight of hundreds upon hundreds of holiday wreaths in the Fairview snow commemorating the sacrifice of so many of New Britain’s sons and daughters, the absence of those wreaths this year in no way diminishes our proud community’s long-standing resolve to always honor service and sacrifice.”

In addition to Mayor Stewart’s keynote address, those taking part will include Pastor Thomas A. Mills of Grace Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, New Britain; members of the Marine Corps League, Hardware City Detachment 781 color guard; and Planning Committee members Dennis Taricani, Mike Wanik, Al Parlow, Tom Higgins and Dean Buden. Placing seven ceremonial wreaths honoring those who served in each branch of service as well as POWs/MIAs will be William Flynn (Army wreath); John Lynch (Marines wreath); Ron Lamontagne (Navy wreath); Diane Salee (Air Force wreath); Don Naples (Coast Guard wreath); David Obedzinski (Merchant Marines wreath); and Sondra Sanford (POWs/MIAs wreath).

The Wreaths Across America New Britain (WAANB) project is managed by the Disabled American Veterans, Hardware City Chapter 8, in cooperation with the City of New Britain and with the assistance of a Planning Committee of volunteers from Greater New Britain’s business, non-profit and veterans service organization communities. The project has been fortunate to enjoy the support of numerous sponsors and supporters and the Planning Committee is looking forward to next year’s event when placement of wreaths will resume.

WAANB sponsors and supporters include: DAV Hardware City Chapter 8; Northwestern Veterans TGM Memorial Post; Enjet Aero; Perkins Travel; Scope Construction Company; Acme Monaco; Richards Machine Tool Company; B&F Machine Company; William and Donna Rutola; the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain; the Community Chest of New Britain and Berlin; the Mayor’s Trophy Charitable Fund; The Tomasso Group; Gaffney, Bennett and Associates; Ericson, Scalise & Mangan; the Suburban Woman’s Club of Greater New Britain; the Rotary Club of Kensington-Berlin Sunrise; Joseph Shilinga; Puerto Vallarta Restaurant; and New Britain Elks Lodge 957. In-kind supporters include VFW Post 511; New Britain Memorial-Sagarino Funeral Home; Sir Speedy Printing and Marketing Services; the Greater New Britain Chamber of Commerce; the Hospital of Central Connecticut; Costco; Polumbo’s Jewelers; St. Jean’s Baptiste Society; Angelo’s Market; Whitson’s Food Service; Town & Country Pizza; Stew Leonard’s; Crystal Ballroom Caterers; Alvarium Beer Company; Franco American War Veterans; Mofongo Restaurant; Belvedere Restaurant; Paul Salina Photography; and Starbucks of Newington. The New Britain Herald is Media Sponsor.

Wreaths Across America (WAA) is a national nonprofit organization founded in 2007 to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. WAA’s mission – Remember, Honor, Teach – is carried out in part by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington and at veterans cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states. Two million volunteers take part annually. For more information, visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.

For more information on the local effort, follow the Wreaths Across America New Britain project on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wreathsfornewbritain.

This press release was produced by Wreaths Across America. The views expressed here are the author's own.