Valley Veterans Receive Wartime Medals

ANSONIA - A ceremony hosted by state Sen. Joseph Crisco, D-Woodbridge, was recently held to honor the service of 40 military veterans who served in various conflicts.

The ceremony, held June 7 at the Ansonia Armory, featured Crisco and Sean Connolly, the state’s Commissioner of Veterans Affairs, presenting the Connecticut Wartime Service Medals to the men and women of the military. Also on hand were Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti and state Rep. Linda Gentile, D-Ansonia/Derby.

“I am from a family that lost a parent during the Second World War,” Crisco said. “We appreciate the sacrifices that families make. You never forget. It is a debt that we can never repay. We thank you so much for what you’ve all done for our country and ourselves.”

The event also featured a Color Guard unit from the Connecticut National Guard, who presented the U.S. and state flags. Korean War veteran Robert Marganski led the gathering in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Members of the Ansonia High School chorus sang the national anthem.

 “We salute all our veterans, of every era, those who donned the uniform so we could live free as a nation,” Connolly said. “We appreciate all of your service, without which we wouldn’t enjoy the freedoms we do today.”

The veterans who received medals hail from Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Derby and Woodbridge, and are listed below:   fry

Joseph Alberti, Anthony Anastasio, John Antrum, Martin Beattie, Howard Bradshaw, Edward Bustin, Henry Castiello, Robert Cavallaro, James Chiaraluce, Richard Chudoba, Lawrence Dawes, Louis DeFilippo, Dominick DeRosa, Richard Didente, Jerome Fainer, Thomas Fassbender, Mario Garofalo, Paul Head, Michael Heise, Patrick Henri, Andrew Hornak, Paul Kurbikoff, Robert Marganski, Ernest Marino, Michael Mazzola, Deryck Millan, 
Robert Moore, Rebecca Odens, Joseph Roberts Jr, George Schroeter, Edward Sharkey, Pollyann Spring, Joseph Stobierski, John Stoner, John Tiano, John Walania and Alexander Weiler.

A statement below released from Derby tax board member, Sam Pollastro, thanked fellow Derby tax board member Howard Bradshaw for his service.  
“On Tuesday June 7^th, 2016 Veterans Affairs Commissioner Sean Connolly (seen here) has awarded the Connecticut’s Wartime Service Medal to Derby’s own Howard Bradshaw at the Ansonia Armory awards ceremony. Mr. Bradshaw is also on Derby’s Tax Board and a member of the DRTC. The DRTC and its members would like to congratulate not only Mr. Bradshaw and the 30-plus members who were honored in receiving this accommodation; but also thank all the men and women who have served our country.”