Masiero to speak at Veterans Day ceremony

This was in the Press. I thought it would interest some of you.

BRISTOL — Spc. Kristen Masiero with the 405th Combat Support Hospital will be the guest speaker at the Bristol Veterans Day ceremony Wednesday at 11 a.m. in Memorial Boulevard School.

Attendees are being asked to bring items for Give 2 the Troops and Troop Dog Handlers in Afghanistan.

Among the items needed are instant soups, beef jerky, microwave popcorn, Chapstick new and used DVD movies, medium Milkbone dog bones rawhide chews, eye drops, hand warmers, individual snack packs, hot chocolate, small foot powder, shampoo and hand/body lotion packages, powder drink mixes, ramen noodles, snack cakes, granola bars, Pop Tarts, red licorice twists, Tootsie Roll candy and lollipops, peanut butter, individually wrapped hard candy, tooth paste, tooth brushes, soap, body wash, deodorant, sun block, AA, AAA batteries, microwave meals, gum, lifesavers, handy wipes, packaged nuts/trail mixes.

For information, contact Lori DeFillippi at (860) 584-1728, jdefillippi@comcast.net or lori.defillippi@va.gov.

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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Veterans Day honors many who sacrificed for all

Written for Veterans Day by Lori DeFillippi of Bristol:

Veterans Day is the day when the service of those men and women who honorably performed their duty in the military service by fulfilling their commitment to the call of duty with the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard, is duly recognized by the United States of America. Some gave the supreme sacrifice, many suffered the horrors of war, and others have carried both the physical and emotional scars of those wars for the remainder of their lives. Many, many more have served most honorably both here at home and across the globe, protecting all that this nation stands for.

Today, as the war on terrorism continues, we have a new generation coming home from battle seeking the compassion of a grateful nation. Returning, as many before them had, with physical and psychological scars, years of rehabilitation, and life altering transformations. Different leaders here, and in Washington have different visions on how America can best pay its gratitude to Veterans. All too often people forget and take for granted the freedoms we have today and forget the sacrifices that were made for our precious freedoms. However, the families & friends of those that died never forget.

This country and each of us should be deeply indebted to these individuals for their devotion to the preservation of our form of government, our freedoms. As a means of demonstrating our extreme gratitude for their unselfish service, it is incumbent upon us all to recognize the significance of Veterans Day. Please take an hour out of your busy lives to attend a Veterans Day ceremony in your town. Bring your children, your grandchildren, or a friend. Visit the monuments in your town. Explain to your children that our monuments are more than just stone. Educate them on the extraordinary acts of courage by the names inscribe on the monuments. Expound on our principles, our values, and our heritage, and why so many men and women are willing to give their lives, and have given their lives, to protect these values. Teaching our youth about our past is so vital to their future. This Veterans Day make a promise to yourself, to your family, and to our Veterans - remember them.

Lori DeFillippi

Veterans Educational Services

2009

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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Veterans Day in Bristol

Matt Carello barely escaped with his life when a roadside bomb shredded his military truck on the Samara bridge in central Iraq back in 2004.
On Tuesday, before a crowd of 200 at the city’s annual Veterans Day ceremony at Memorial Boulevard Middle School, Carello recalled the smell of sulphur and burning flesh.
“Coming home is the toughest thing I’ve ever done in my life,” Carello said. “I’ll never forget where I was.”
Many of the aging veterans who dotted the auditorium nodded their heads in agreement.
Carello, 29, said that every soldier coming back from every theater of war in every age needs the support of the community.
Mayor Art Ward said that the community has a chance this week to show its support for another wounded veteran, Corp. Matt Lavoie, who is recovering in a Washington, D.C. military hospital from an Iraqi explosion in September.
“We can help a wounded veteran from our community,” Ward told the crowd, by showing up for the $15-a-person fundraiser on Thursday to help Lavoie’s family cope with expenses.
Ward said that Lavoie, who has undergone at least 10 surgeries already, is going to return home soon a changed man.
“Without a doubt,” the mayor said, “it’s going to be a life-altering experience.”
Ward, a Vietnam War veteran, said that he is sure Lavoie “would be very, very appreciative of anything we can do” to help his family and himself.
Organized by his mother's boss, Carrie Tonon, the $15-a-person pasta dinner fundraiser is slated for 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday. at Nuchies.
Lavoie called it a "very nice" gesture recently.
"I wish I could go," he said, adding that he probably can't.
But Pam Lavoie, his mother, is hoping they can rig up a webcam so at least he can make some sort of appearance.
State Rep. Frank Nicastro, a former mayor who put in 30 years in the military, said that Lavoie is "a young man who placed his life on the line for his country" and deserves the help of the entire community as he tries to recover.
Nicastro said that it is "well worth the money" for everyone to attend the pasta supper and to lend a hand to a brave young soldier.
"This family could use all of our community support," Ward said.
Tickets will be available at the door or by emailing Tonon at tonon@snet.net or ctonon@gemssensors.com.

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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com