First Selectman's Corner May 31, 2021 - Memorial Day Remembrances
First Selectman’s Corner – May 31, 2021
“Memorial Day - Remembering their Names, Honoring their Sacrifice”
May 31, 2021 at Chapin Park, New Hartford, CT
Thank you everyone for joining us here today as we pay tribute to all those who have died in the service and protection of our great nation. Today we show our gratitude and respect for those who have lived a life of service and made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of our great nation.
It’s my honor to be joined by our distinguished veterans and members of the American Legion. Our thanks go out to Rich St. John, Jackie Evoncian and all those who have helped in preparation for this ceremony. We also thank our Scouts, Police, Firefighters, and EMS for joining us. I also appreciate the time and energy of the volunteers who placed flags in our cemeteries and along the highway to pay tribute to our fallen. Hans and Miles….we really appreciate your hard work. Thank you.
Before we begin, we note the absence of a recently lost New Hartford resident and US Army veteran; Paul Pompa who served our country in World War II. Paul died in December at the young age of 96. Paul and his family – all 20 of them were raised here in New Hartford. Imagine that for a second – 18 brothers and sisters! I can’t prove it, but I bet it’s a record. Anyway, several years ago, I think it was 2012, Paul gave a moving tribute at the Town Hill Memorial Park service on Memorial Day. Donna LaPlante and I were conducting the memorial “service” and without notice Paul gave this impromptu speech. Perhaps some of you were there and recall the speech. It was really amazing!
Paul recalled the loss of his four brothers in World War II - all killed in action. Paul remembered them all by name and honored them by ringing our Memorial Bell once for each of his brothers. Like many in attendance, I had never known of the legacy of the Pompa family’s service to our country. It’s inspiring.
Paul is missed and today as is his family, and I’ll ring the bell for Paul and his four brothers later this afternoon. The Pompa family gave mightily to secure our freedom, and I think it’s appropriate that we remember them again here today.
Each year, I would see Paul around town and invite him to join us at this service, but he would politely decline saying he had to go to a birthday party at his sister’s house in Barkhamsted this weekend. If you’re wondering…his sister Katie (Pompa) Bird just passed away in January. She was 103! Imagine the things she saw…
We also note the passing of US Army veteran Raymond F. Lamont from Stedman Road, age 93. Like Paul Pompa, Ray also served in World War II and lost a brother in combat. His name was Erwin Edward Lamont. Ray and I worked together to ensure that his brother’s name and family were remembered in at the American Cemetery and Memorial in Margraten, Netherlands – the subject of my 2019 Veterans Day address. Ray was a really cool guy and it tells you something about him - that it was important to remember his brother’s service before he left us. We’re thankful for the Lamont family and their service and sacrifice.
We also note the passing of US Army veteran Gerald Lee Roth and US Air Force veteran Thomas Sedgwick – both from New Hartford whom we lost over the past year. They are missed too.
Over the years, many men and women have been asked to stand before you, like I have been asked to do so today, in the hope that we might share a thoughtful, passionate remembrance of our fallen heroes. A tribute, like Paul Pompa’s - that’s lasting. Try as I might, each and every year it’s a difficult challenge to accept. Thankfully, from my personal perspective, my frame of reference is poor, as I’ve been fortunate enough never to have experienced the loss of a loved one in service to our country - so I try my best to cobble together a presentation the best I can. As we all know…we can try to talk about losing someone in combat, try to imagine it, but unless you’ve been there, it’s kind of hard to know the depth of that feeling or understand the pain of that loss.
Typically, in preparation for this address I visit some, if not all of our town’s cemeteries. I actually enjoy going there. Most all of our cemeteries are really beautiful, peaceful places. Roughly half are off the beaten track and most all have quiet places - except for the perhaps the smaller Pine Meadow cemetery behind me on Main Street. They all have stories to tell - and in large part - it’s the story of our New Hartford. Many of the headstones reveal a legacy of service unknown to me before my visit and I take pause. Many of the headstones have messages or remembrances: flowers, coins, a beer… These trips can be an interesting experience. Memorable.
Truth is so many New Hartford families have served and sacrificed. Just look behind us at that Memorial. Like our other War Memorials in front of Town Hall and at Town Hill Memorial Park our town has given plenty to the cause of freedom. Just look at the length of the names on that list - it’s amazing - because they all believed in the dream of freedom and they all were willing to stand tall and pay the price. And all those who have served should be honored and remembered by name.
I’ll leave you today with a parting thought. Not all those who die in service to this nation, do so in battle. Many pass during training exercises like the eight (8) Marines and one Navy sailor who were killed off the coast of Southern California last summer when a 35 year old Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV), subsequently described to be in “horrible condition” failed. The cause of the accident is not important today. Today is a day to remember their service and their sacrifice:
These soldiers names are: Wesley Rodd (23) from Harris, Texas, Cesar Villanueva (21) from Riverside, California, Marco Barranco (21) from Montebello, California, Guillermo Perez (19) from New Braunfels, Texas, and Chase Sweetwood (19) from Portland, Oregon, Bryan Baltierra (19) from Corona, California, Evan Bath (19) from Oak Creek, Wisconsin, and Jack Ryan Ostrovsky (21) from Bend, Oregon and Navy sailor Christopher Gnem (22) from Stockton, California.
These soldiers and sailors weren’t drafted, they volunteered and died serving their Country. That’s four California towns, two Texas towns, two Oregon towns and one Wisconsin town that will be having remarkably different services then we will today. One filled by tragedy and grief for their lost loved one….and we here in New Hartford share that loss with them today. Our hearts also go out to their Camp Pendleton family. We are with you!
20 years old, that’s how old they were… Far too young to die. And this is the lesson that we pass along to our children….all our lives are sacred, but so too is our freedom.
Perhaps it’s fitting that it rained all weekend and caused us to stop and think for a few moments. I know many party plans were ruined. Beach trips canceled. I just wonder how many party participants stopped to pay their respect to those who sacrificed.
I know I did…and if you’re here with us today – I know that you did too. I thank you for those thoughts and prayers.
So together let’s pause one more time today, remember the names of our lost hero’s, whether they’re from here in New Hartford or across this great nation. Let’s say their names, and honor their service, honor their sacrifice, honor the sacrifice of their families and most importantly, keep their memory alive within our children.
Let us also remember our Veterans and members of the American Legion here with us today…and all those that currently stand a post somewhere far away from home that are protecting freedom. We thank them all for their service and we pray for their safe return.
I thank you all for joining us here today to thank our Veterans and members the American Legion. I ask that you join me in a round of applauds to honor their service. Thank You!
Have a safe and happy holiday weekend!
Daniel V. Jerram, First Selectman
*due to weather this service was moved inside at St. John’s Church. Our thanks are extended to Reverend Sandra Cosman for hosting the service. In some cases the text was modified due to the change in location.