Honoring Veterans in West Hartford, What You Need To Know

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Whereas Memorial Day each May pays homage to those who paid the supreme sacrifice for their country, the holiday on Friday honors all veterans — living or dead.

Veterans Day's genesis stems from the end of World War I in November 1918, but it has evolved into a national holiday where all men and women who served are honored.

On Friday, the Town of West Hartford will honor all veterans with a small Veterans Day ceremony on Friday, Nov. 11.

The American Legion Post No, 96 and the Town of West Hartford will hold a brief Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. at the Connecticut Veterans Memorial, which is located on the corner of North Main Street and Farmington Avenue, West Hartford Center.

The keynote speaker will be retired U.S. Naval Capt. James Caley.

If the weather is inclement, the ceremony will be relocated indoors at the West Hartford Town Hall auditorium, 50 S. Main St.

Capt. James Caley, US Navy (Retired), will be the guest speaker.

Caley is a native of West Hartford and served as a judge advocate in both active and reserve component assignments.

He retired in 2021 after 30 years of commissioned service, which included postings at the U.S. Submarine Base, Groton, Conn., the U.S. Naval War College, Newport, R.I., and the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

He is a veteran of the Iraq War, where he was deployed to Baghdad during the surge, and is the recipient of the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Iraq Campaign Medal, among others.

He is employed as an assistant attorney general for the State of Connecticut and lives in town with his wife Margo and his two sons, Maxwell, and Christopher.

The American Legion Hayes-Velhage Post 96, which is celebrating its Centennial Anniversary this year, annually organizes the Veterans Day ceremony.

In addition to Caley, the Veterans Day ceremony speakers will also include American Legion Post 96 Commander Heidi-Anne Mooney, West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor and state Senator Derek Slap, D-West Hartford.

Emma DeMichele will sing the National Anthem and Zander Bos of West Hartford Boy Scout Troop 145 will play TAPS.

Members of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 96 and the Hayes-Velhage Post 96 will present the memorial wreath.

Color guards from the American Legion Post 96 and West Hartford Police and Fire departments are also part of the ceremony honoring veterans.

On Veterans Day, American Legion Hayes-Velhage Post 96, West Hartford, will announce its commitment to continue the “March to 100” which was first announced at the 2021 Veterans Day Ceremony.

Post Commander Heidi-Anne Mooney said “The theme of our centennial journey over the past 12 months that has led us to our 100th anniversary is 'Together with our Community.'”

"We will also look to expand our involvement with community youth programs such as scouting at all levels and continued recognition of students choosing a commitment to serve in the military,” Mooney said.

Post 96 of West Hartford has been serving our veterans and community since 1922 and is open to all military veterans who have served honorably and military personnel currently on active duty.

For more information on the history of the Veterans Day holiday, click on this link.