The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
‘They’ve done so much for our country’
Veterans honored at annual assembly
BURLINGTON — There were few empty seats at Lewis S. Mills High School on Friday when the school community celebrated veterans with a luncheon and assembly, in honor of Veterans Day.
Harrison Colossalle, a freshman at Lewis Mills, was helping out with the event and the luncheon, wearing his Navy Sea Cadets uniform.
He said he was inspired to join the Plainville-based group by his stepbrother, who is serving in the Navy, and wanted to help shine a spotlight on veterans.
“Veterans aren’t always recognized enough, I feel,” said Colossalle. “They’ve done so much for our country.”
Veterans John West, Cindy Tran tee and John Segar, were among the many guests at the celebration.
West, a 10-year veteran of the Navy and Bristol resident, said he was there in honor of his friend Jeff Lawton, who recently died, leaving behind two daughters, including Heather, a student at Lewis Mills, who he wanted to surprise.
He said he was thinking of his fellow members of the military as the holiday season drew near.
“(I’m) remembering all my fallen brothers and those I served with,” said West.
For Trantee, her own thoughts were also on the holidays. A 29year veteran in the military, she was inspired to follow in her father’s footsteps In her decades in the service, she worked in a variety of roles, from nursing to operations and training to human resources.
“I don’t look at (Veterans Day) as a celebration of my service,” said Trantee, a Burlington resident.
“I look at it as a celebration of
“It’s a pleasant surprise to see the younger generation appreciating what we did with our time to protect them.”
Veteran John Segar
others’ service.”
Segar was also inspired by his father, a World War II veteran, to join the military. He served in Vietnam, and said he was thinking of loved ones who had sacrificed as the holiday drew near. It was a pleasure to see the young people honoring veterans, he said, and represented a shift in public opinion since the end of the Vietnam War.
“It’s a culture shock,” said Segar. “It’s a pleasant surprise to see the younger generation appreciating what we did with our time to protect them.”
The three noted the value of discipline and a commitment to teamwork, which military service had provided for them.
Six Lewis Mills students shared reflections on the occasion during the assembly, which also featured the playing of “Taps” and the singing of the “Star Spangled Banner” and “America the Beautiful.” Veterans also stood and were recognized by those in attendance.
“To all the veterans: you’re the heroes that inspire me and many others to preserve the Repub-
lic and her freedoms that you so valiantly defended with your lives,” said John Iacino, a junior. “Most of us will never experience the vile and wretched horrors of war. It is imperative that these veterans, who have been through the atrocities of war, are honored.”
“These veterans are the stalwart defenders of peace on earth,” Iacino said. “They’ve crossed the scorched plains of war to protect the lives of those they have never met. Nothing is more commendable — and that is what it means to be a hero.”
“We should truly be remembering these people every single day,” said Sam Furst, a senior, who noted the memory of her grandfather, a Vietnam War veteran. “Any time you express your opinion, speak out against your government, walk freely to places you would like to go, you should remember those who gave their lives to give you these rights.”
“These men and women represented everything that we as a nation fight to protect,” said Holden Cowger, a junior. “Our honor, our liberty, our livelihood, lies with them.”