Vietnam War vigil stirs emotions

I attended a Vietnam War vigil Saturday sponsored by No Vet Left Behind, Inc., a non-profit organization based in our hometown of Ansonia, Ct.
Founders George and Mary Porter of Derby, Ct. have made it their life's work to do what they can to assist needy veterans.
The vigil was part of the non-profit organization's Memorial Day weekend celebration, which included a six-mile "Warrior Spirit/Ruck March."
I wrote a story about the event, which you can read here. I took several photos, and the one above was published with the story.

Below you see the solemn ceremony held when the first "POW," portrayed by a Vietnam veteran, was replaced by a second "POW," who also served in Vietnam.
They sat blindfolded, on the ground in a replica of a bamboo cage for an hour, in memory of POWs from Connecticut.
When the second man started his hour-long term, participants joined hands and formed a circle around the cage. They swayed back and forth as Billy Joel's 1982 song, "Good Night Saigon" played.

* Hometown pride *

We live in a neighborhood that includes four schools within a half-mile radius. It's quiet here, except for weekday mornings during the school year. That's when, as you can imagine, everyone is rushing to get to one of them. Parents, teachers, staff, high school kids driving old cars at high speeds, you get the idea.

Around the corner sits Emmett O'Brien Technical High School, one of the few schools around that continues to hold Sept. 11 remembrances. The school maintains a memorial garden in front of the entrance that was installed in 2002. I was there for that dedication ceremony, which featured several speakers.

I remember one of our state representatives read an emotional poem that evening, that I believe he had written.

I was there last evening and I interviewed students who were in second grade when our nation was attacked. They recalled how they didn't comprehend what was happening that day, they just knew "something really bad" had occurred. One student said two of her cousins have since served in Iraq, and are now back home.

My story was wrapped into a bigger one about regional observances, of which there were not too many. Here is what was published:

Emmett O’Brien Technical High School moved its ceremony indoors after rain hit and students used battery-powered tealights that were placed atop the folded-up bleachers in the gym.

Principal Laurie LeBouthillier said they had planned to light luminaria during the ceremony and put them in front of the school, next to 156 flags that were placed in the ground Thursday.

About 100 people attended the Friday evening ceremony.

Volunteers read the names of all 156 people from Connecticut who died in the attacks.

Students and teachers took turns reading profiles of the victims, which featured anecdotes about them that had been recorded by family members soon after the attacks. “Amazing Grace” played in the background. Copies of the victims’ profiles were displayed in the school corridors.

LeBouthillier said she was grateful a parent donated the battery-powered candles for indoor use, and parents and several stores donated refreshments.

Social studies teacher Jim Marrone coordinated the annual event as in the past.

The school held a moment of silence at the time of the attacks Friday morning, and firefighters circled the school in the firetrucks.

The reading of the names lasted more than 90 minutes. “We knew it would take a while, but we couldn’t leave anyone out,” LeBouthillier said.

Sophomores Ashley Balisciano of Shelton and Amanda Laing of Ansonia, both 15, helped at the event. They were in second grade in 2001 and didn’t understand what had happened.

“We just knew something bad had happened,” Amanda said. “More people should come to (ceremonies like) this,” she said. “It’s important to remember."

I hope people where you live took the time to show support for the victims, emergency workers, and their families, for whom life has never been the same.