The Newtown Woods community honored its resident veterans with a military-style ceremony on Monday, November 9.

Dozens of Newtown Woods residents gathered at the area's clubhouse early Monday afternoon. Louise Cronin welcomed everyone and noted that they were all there for the same reason: to recognize and express their gratitude, respect, and pride for the many service people who have served their country.

She introduced everyone to the Master of Ceremony, Sheryl Weber, who would present each speaker as the event went on. Mary Hoyt took the floor next and led everyone in an invocation, noting that they gathered with grateful hearts to honor the brave men and women who have served the United States. She added that they especially honor those in the Newtown Woods community, both those present and those who could not be with them today.

Hoyt asked God to bless the veterans and their families, to grant healing to those who carry visible and invisible wounds, comfort to those who breathe, strength to those who continue to struggle, and peace to all who have served.

She continued, "May we never take for granted the freedom we enjoy. Help us to show our gratitude with words, actions, care, and support. May we work together for a more peaceful world. May your blessing be upon our veterans, our military families, our nation, and all who serve in the cause of freedom."

Tony Bruno went to the front of the room and sang the national anthem, sharing how much of an honor it was for him to sing it to everyone.

After Hoyt led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance, veteran Cindy Gurney shared a few remarks with the crowd. She thanked everyone for being there as they gathered to honor the men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States Armed Forces. Gurney added that once a person spends time in the military, their perspective of Veterans Day changes.

"In our youth, Veterans Day was a tribute to the legendary figures in history, but as years pass, and as we serve alongside and sometimes say heartbreaking farewells to the individuals who made up our ranks, Veterans Day becomes intensely personal," Gurney said. "It becomes a day defined by faces, names, and shared sacrifices."

She continued by saying that Veterans Day is profoundly different from Memorial Day, as with the former, they celebrate the living legacy of service. To that end, Gurney said they honor every individual who took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic. This, she said, is an oath that has no expiration date, rather it is a commitment that alters the DNA of everyone who takes it.

Gurney said that when they entered the military, they left behind the comforts of predictability and traded individual autonomy for collective responsibility.

"We endured long separations from family, missed birthdays, suffered whole nights in the field, and for many of us, the intense burden of combat. We did this not for fame or wealth, but our enduring belief in something greater than ourselves," Gurney said.

She shared some memories from her deployment which have stuck with her all these years later. What really defines a veteran is not just what they did while in uniform, but what they continue to do when they take it off, according to Gurney. She said many veterans continue to serve, becoming firefighters, police offices, youth coaches, business leaders, and doctors. Gurney noted that the discipline, resilience, and leadership forged in the military do not vanish when people leave the military, and that veterans remain the bedrock of their neighborhoods, quietly strengthening the fabric of their communities every single day.

She thanked the veterans in the audience for their sacrifice, enduring spirit, and continued dedication to their country. Gurney also thanked the families of the veterans, adding "we owe you a debt that can never be fully repaid." She said they are the unsung heroes who kept the home fires burning, enduring the anxiety of deployments and sometimes even moving across the country or even the world.

"To our community members who have not served, the best way to honor veterans is not just by saying thank you for your service, although these words are always deeply appreciated. The highest tribute you can pay is to live a life worthy of our sacrifice," Gurney said. "Be active citizens. Look out for one another. Build a society that reflects the ideals we fought to protect. As we leave here today, let us carry the spirit of veterans with us every day of the year. Let us remember that freedom is never free; it is made by and sustained by the dedication of ordinary people who go forward to do extraordinary things."

Weber invited any veterans in the audience to talk about their service, with some taking the step to do so. Afterwards, she read out a roll call of all the living and deceased veterans in their community, noting their positions and years of service.

The celebrated veterans in the Newtown Woods community include Nicholas Borello, Cindy Gurney, Jeff Speirs, Art McClain, Tom Urwin, Frank Magnante, John Buckley, Ray Jackson, Tom McCaffrey, Charles Yarrish, Stu Deane, and Ron Phillips. The community's deceased veterans include David Shaw, Gene Stein, Richard Beranato, and George Stockwell.

Everyone in the audience honored their veterans with the “Armed Forces Salute,” which Weber called the official song of the United States uniform. She invited veterans to stand or raise their hand when they heard the anthem of their respective service.

Following a benediction offered by Jim O'Brien, all in attendance observed a moment of silence to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that they may enjoy their freedom. This moment of silence, Weber said, also paid tribute to those of their family and their community who are no longer with them. The ceremony closed with everyone listening to “Taps,” a bugle call which signals "lights out" at the end of a military day, in a moment of quiet.

Afterwards, everyone was free to talk amongst themselves. Many took a moment to enjoy the food and refreshments prepared by the event organizers, filling up their plates with apple crisp, cupcakes, scones, snowball cookies, and more.

The ceremony was organized by Weber, Gurney, Nancy Galiano, and Louise Cronin, who first started preparing for the event back in August.

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Reporter Jenna Visca can be reached at jenna@thebee.com.