Vets Honored, Professor Called All To ‘Serve’

At NYA Garden Ceremony

By John Voket

What may have otherwise been a festive party on the patio at the Newtown Youth Academy instead became a solemn tribute to all veterans on Memorial Day weekend — particularly to all the Connecticut men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice on bases and battlegrounds around the globe since 1990.

Saturday, May 26, marked the official opening of the Veterans Honor Garden at the NYA, which includes three flagpoles, one for the US Flag, another for the Connecticut state flag, and a third to display a banner reminding all of the many soldiers still Missing In Action (MIA).

The patio also features numerous plantings, paving stones representing sponsors or supporters of the effort, and etched bricks with the name, branch of service, and date of death of each of the state’s deceased armed forces members going back more than 22 years.

The centerpiece of the memorial is a huge fountain with jets that pump columns of water high into the air.

Saturday’s ceremony commenced with the entrance of numerous uniformed members of the military, as well as a contingent of Minuteman and Patriot Guard Riders, many of whom were retired veterans themselves.

As the volunteer riders stood motionless in the searing heat, each holding an American flag, the uniformed military representatives raised the three flags. Once the flags were raised, Newtown resident Katie Cummings sang the national anthem and Monsignor Robert Weiss of St Rose of Lima parish gave the invocation.

First Selectman Pat Llodra then delivered welcoming remarks and her own thoughts on the importance of recognizing the sacrifices of all veterans past, present, and future.

At that point WestConn Professor Christopher Kukk, PhD, came to the podium to deliver what many later remarked was an inspiring keynote address that put a new and personalized spin on the military term “chain of command.”

“As a soldier, one of the first things you learn to never forget is your chain of command,” Dr Kukk said. “However, now, as a citizen and veteran who is taking part in honoring our American heroes today I want to talk about a different chain of command: The chains or bonds that link us together as citizens and, I sincerely believe, command our strength and determine our future as a country.”

He said the chain of society is made up of individuals and organizations that seek to make our towns into communities.

“They recognize that we, as a community, are only as strong as the weakest link in the chain of society. They honor our fallen heroes every day by trying to strengthen the links that need help,” Dr Kukk continued, adding that any citizen can get involved in some way making a positive contribution.

“You can do anything from tutoring in school to volunteering on local town boards to serving food in a homeless shelter,” he continued. “Everyone can do something; from the young to the old. Today we are remembering those who paid — paid the ultimate price — for our freedom and liberty. We will never forget them.”

Dr Kukk told the attendees that they can honor military veterans everyday by preserving and increasing the quality of that liberty and freedom through acts that strengthen the community.

“I challenge each of you on this day of remembrance to take a civic pledge to take care of our own and Ever Honor our fallen military heroes by taking on at least one active role in your community,” he concluded. “They gave their life, can’t you at least give an hour?”

Following Dr Kukk, NYA founder Peter D’Amico took to the microphone relating his personal story of how the United States provided him with many opportunities, and how he has often sought ways to give back to the community, including his efforts to see the academy built in Newtown.

The program commenced with a solemn reading of the names of Connecticut’s fallen by a panel of volunteers including NYA staff, local students, and a group of scouts. As each name was read, another volunteer struck a bell chime while a red carnation was placed in the deceased veteran’s commemorative paving stone by a member of the NYA youth soccer team.

After about 45 minutes, the volunteers reached the end of the list and a 21-gun salute was fired as yet another military representative placed a wreath at the base of the flagpole bearing the stars and stripes. As the ceremony concluded, more than 100 attendees enjoyed refreshments which were served by NYA staffers led by Rob “Coach” Frangione.