To the Editor:

I came to Newtown on Monday, September 7 to participate in the Labor Day Parade along with other members of the Eastern Vintage Police Car Association.  The crowd was wonderful and the weather was warm and sunny.  Those watching the parade were happy, friendly and playful.  I'm sure that my car ended up in quite a few Twitter and Facebook feeds as phones were pointed at me throughout the route.  It was very, very pleasant.

Unfortunately, the combination of warm and sunny weather and a very slow moving parade became too much for the vintage police car that I had brought, and I was forced to fall out of the parade when the car overheated.  I had not even gotten the hood open before I was surrounded by residents offering help. Neighbors, passers by and even parade participants offered water to drink, water for the car and even antifreeze. One person offered to take me to a parts store if I needed a hose.  A very friendly bicycle police officer stopped by to make sure that I was okay and to offer help.

I am grateful.  While this wasn't how I would have chosen my day to go, the experience offered me an opportunity to meet the real Newtown, a community full of kindhearted, helpful people. To those who helped, offered help and to those who offered kind words, water, a ride, a seat in the shade, please accept my sincere thanks.  To the very shy, very young lady who came over and handed me a very cold bottle of water, please accept my most sincere thanks.

Kevin Cormack

Berlin, Conn.  September 8, 2015