Flags and bugles for town's vets
Date: 11/15/2010
Nov. 15, 2010By Debbie Gardner
Assistant Managing Editor
WILBRAHAM -- Pipers, singers, buglers and uniformed servicemen were all a part of the town's annual Veterans Day ceremony, which took place at 11 a.m. in Crane Park.
Among the dignitaries in attendance where David Hurst, minister of Grace Union Church, who delivered the invocation, Glenn Trevallion, commander of American Legion Post 286, Veteran's Agent Richard Prochnow, who served as master of ceremonies, State Sen. Gale Candaras, State Rep. Angelo Puppolo, Selectmen James Thompson and Patrick Brady and keynote speaker, Navy veteran John Seyler.
During his remarks, Thompson made note of the passing of Jesse Rice, who served as the town's first veteran's agent and beyond that service to the town, "was always involved in everything."
Thompson said Rice would be sorely missed.
He also recognized the dedication of School Committee Chairman Peter T. Salerno and his family in their search for the remains of Salerno's "Uncle Johnny," who was lost in France during the World War II D-Day offensive.
The Salerno family, he noted, had buried John's remains in Arlington National Cemetery earlier in the week.
In addition to recognizing those town figures, Sen. Candaras, Rep. Puppolo and the Board of Selectmen also took a moment to recognize and thank the town's Human Resource Coordinator, Herta Dane, for the 18 years of support she had provided to Prochnow.
Prochnow and the town's veterans services recently relocated to the senior center, which is located in the Scantic Valley YMCA building. Barbara Harrington was introduced as Procknow's new aide.