Stratford honors vets with drive-thru breakfast
STRATFORD — It wasn’t the usual celebration of Veterans Day Wednesday in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
But as Mayor Laura Hoydick said, “It’s something.”
Attendance was limited at the VFW Post 9460’s annual ceremony marking the day at Academy Hill, and there couldn’t be any of the usual in-school assemblies and programs honoring those who have served in the country’s armed forces.
Still, a number of groups in town banded together to mark the day of remembrance and honor veterans at a drivethrough breakfast in the parking lot of the Baldwin Community Center.
“It’s not a hard lift for us to get people to do this,” the mayor said.
Interim Director of Senior Services Tammy Trojanowski and Baldwin Center Activities Assistant Laura Kapitan organized the event, which distributed to-go breakfasts to nearly 100 veterans.
“We tried to think of something small that we could do for the seniors,” said Kapitan, whose son, James Lariccia, is a Marine.
The meals — paid for by grants and donations — came with letters from high school students in town expressing their gratitude.
Lining the driveway were more than 20 children from the nearby Sterling House Community Center’s “Kids on Campus” program, waving American flags and holding signs as patriotic songs played.
“We were excited to walk over and be part of this,” Sterling House Executive Director Amanda Meeson said.
Firefighters and police —many of whom are veterans themselves— were also on hand to honor those who served, as was Public Safety Di recto rand Army veteran Larry Ciccarelli and state Rep. Joe Gr esko.
Andreanos Wheway, a Stratford police officer for the past two years currently in the National Guard, waved to the veter ans while standing in front of a cruiser bedecked with patriotic bunting for the occasion.
He said he was happy to “have the opportunity to thank the residents of Stratford for their time and commitment to serve in the military .”
“This is just a small token of my gratitude to them ,” Wheway said.
School officials were also on hand taking part in Wednesday’ s program.
“We typically will host a Veterans Day ceremony a tours chool with a luncheon prepared and served by Bunnell High School culinary students followed by an assembly in our auditorium with speakers and recognition of the various branches of the military ,” Bun ne ll High School Principal Nancy Dow ling said .“So unfortunately, here we are, with COVID, coming up with a Plan B to honor our veterans .”
Sarah Mas so, a 90year-old lifelong Stratford resident whose late husband, Frank, was a Marine who served in World War I I and Korea, donned an Uncle Sam costume to take part in Wednesday’ s drivethrough breakfast.
Mas so, who has performed in events with the Baldwin Players, said she’ ll keep doing so “as long as God keeps me going .”
“In this world, we need more good times ,” she said .“If we just get along with one another and be nice, happiness is con tagious.”