The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
‘THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE LIKE IT’
Veterans recall WWII during Veterans Day celebration
TORRINGTON — U.S. Navy submarine lieutenant Jack McGrane of Torrington was the eldest veteran — perhaps one of the few left in the area who served in World War II — present at the annual Veterans Day ceremony at Coe Memorial Park Civic Center on Saturday.
Speeches from veterans and local politicians, a militia rifle salute and the veterans’ saluting of the wreaths for local military veteran organizations took place during the event, which was attended by about 175 people.
“What can you say? I lost a lot of friends during World War II and the Korean War,” McGrane, 93, said. “A lot of friends were lost during D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge.”
McGrane, who was originally from Brooklyn, N.Y., and moved to Torrington, said he served five years in active duty and 12 during inactive duty.
McGrane continued, “If you were in World War II, there was nothing else like it. We have had other wars since then, but none so all-encompassing that everybody got drafted. Fifteen million men and some women were armed.”
About one hour earlier, the Veterans Day ceremony at Coe Memorial Park was rung in by an invocation by veteran and chaplain Roger Geiger, who called upon God to “guide them (veterans) through their travels.”
State Sen. Craig Miner, R-30, issued a Veterans Day proclamation from Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, joined by state Rep.Mi-chelle Cook and Jay Case. Miner said, “It is incumbent upon us for to provide care for those who have encountered hostile territories, these returning veterans.”
Cook acknowledged during her speech that fathers, sons, and mothers serving in the armed forces missed out during the upcoming Thanksgiving/ Christmas/New Year’s Eve holidays. “We thank each and every veteran for their service,” Cook said, and issued a proclamation recognizing that veterans from the American Revolutionary War’s militias to those involved in modern warfare had exhibited “patriotism and courage.” She added, “We direct attention their selfless deeds. Bless you all and God bless America.”
During his speech, Rep. Jay Case said, “This is our appreciation of your service and of your leadership, and of your sacrifice while defending the country.”
Torrington Mayor Elinor Carbone, in issuing the city’s proclamation for Veterans Day, took a different approach to celebrating Veterans Day in her speech. “Saying ‘thank you for your service’ doesn’t seem enough,” she said, citing a recent article that suggested ways of showing appreciation for U.S. war veterans: “The appeal is for young people here for citizens of the world just to not utter words but to put words into action.”
She noted the article said Twitter hashtags and installing green light bulbs were good gestures but veterans had suggestions for concrete actions, such as volunteering at veterans’ hospitals, donating to a military cause and getting to know veterans in one’s community.
Torrington Veterans Support Committee chairman Leo Martigneni, who emceed the event, said during a break in the event: “It is great to see everyone come out, especially the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts, to express gratitude.”
The event was moved outside into Coe Memorial Park by 11 a.m. Torrington resident Steven Heintz played taps on the trumpet and 10 members of the Northwest Honor Guard gave a rifle salute. The ritual recognized the 11th day of the 11th hour of the 11th month in order to mark the original Armistice Day cessation of international hostilities during World War I.
The event resumed back inside the Coe Memorial Park Civic Center, with guest speaker and U.S. Air Force veteran Joanne Brogois giving a speech. Brogois, who served in active duty in Desert Storm and Desert Shield, and who spent 30 years in the Torrington public school system, said she was “honored and humbled to be representing veterans.”
While growing up, she said, her Catholic school system and the national antipathy toward the Vietnam War had never given her an option for a military career. That changed in 1979, when she decided to join the U.S. Air Force.
“All privileges were taken away for six weeks,” she said, adding that when it came time to be assigned duties, she said, “I told my recruiter: ‘Just don’t give me a desk job.’” Brogois worked for 30 years in transportation services in the U.S. Air Force, landing military aircraft such as C-130s and C-141s.
“It was fulfilling,” she said, despite the challenges of balancing military duty with having three children. “We still had to give 100 percent,” she said, adding later, “It is a personal sacrifice and knowing full well there was a chance of not returning.”
Afterward, Rachel Harrel of Torrington expressed her delight with the event.
“I am pretty impressed with the turnout,” Harrel said. “Both of my grandfathers were in World War II, and my uncle from Florida was in Vietnam.” Harrel supervised the four troops from the Girl Scouts of America Troop 4004, who had sung the ceremony’s inaugural “Star Spangled Banner” and, after the ceremony, gave handwritten thank-you letters to present veterans.