Veterans: They saved all of us

The members of the five-man “Military Final Honors’’ squad that performed their brief but moving ceremony Friday at Atria Litchfield Hills, are Paul Seymour, Bruce Falls, Bud Atwood and John Secor, all former U.S. Army sergeants; and Master Sergeant Steve Kovaleski, U.S. Air Force.

All of them are in their 70s, but none had allowed themselves to pack on much extra weight. Dressed in full Class A uniforms, complete with the special berets provided by the Department of Defense and worn when on duty by this group of veterans, the five enjoyed lunch in Atria’s well-appointed dining room before going outdoors. When a goodly number of residents had gathered (others watched through inside windows), Atria executive director Carleton Dunn offered welcoming remarks. That done, the uniformed outfit raised the Stars and Stripes and then, in the most military way, lined up and fired a salute with their rifles.

Secor played “Taps’’ in strong, clean notes on his bugle, and then residents who are military veterans received a “thanks for your service” card signed by Atria staff members, presented to each by one of the honor guard members. Indefatigable Kelly Bossidy, director of recreation, arranged the program.

Later (before my afternoon nap), I wondered how many senior facilities such as this one, had observances such as this. I know that old folks, especially those who are restricted in their travels, put great stock in such ceremonies. It refreshes their memories and, in a way, restores their youth.

It was enlightening and somehow very fulfilling, during lunch, to chat with these men. There are 13 of them in all and they are looking for more veterans to join them. They call themselves “Military Final Honors” serving, according to their business cards, “Northwest Connecticut and Beyond.”

“We’ve officiated at about 70 veterans funerals this year,” Bud Awood said. “Some 10 or 12 years ago, believe it or not, we did 360 graveside ceremonies, almost one a day.”

Today is the “real” Veterans Day, and the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. Ceremonies will be held to honor the men and women who fought and died in foreign wars. At Coe Memorial Park in Torrington, a large after-church crowd will be gathering, I’m thinking, and the same will take place throughout the county and around the country.

Friday’s newspapers carried reminders of the horrors of war and conquests that led to the world’s young men being called upon to defend freedom around the world for all of us. One particularly jarring story told of the commemoration by some 100 people of the chilling “Kristallnacht” in Hartford. Kristallnacht means (paraphrasing) “Night of Broken Glass,” which took place Nov. 10, 1938, when Nazi thugs staged a savage rampage against Jews, burning synagogues and Jewish businesses, beating up and even killing some Jews and setting fire to their homes.

It was a night of horror that signaled what was to come, not only in Germany but throughout Europe and then, swiftly, the world – World War II.

Veterans Day asks the question, “Where would we have been without those millions of young men, and women, who stepped up?’’ We all know the answer, and we honor those heroic “kids” today.