Largest Turnout Ever Pays Tribute to Those Who Served and Those We’ve Lost at Wreaths Across America of New Britain Day Event

Nearly 150 Guests, Participants and Volunteers Attend Ceremony and Stay On to Help Lay More Than 1,400 Commemorative Wreaths

New Britain, Conn., December 17, 2024 – The community of New Britain once again put its patriotic colors on full display at Saturday’s Wreaths Across America of New Britain (WAANB) event at Fairview Cemetery, as nearly 150 guests – the largest turnout ever – attended a formal ceremony and then stayed on afterward to help place more than 1,400 commemorative wreaths upon the gravesites of Veterans interred at Fairview.

“We are very proud of the effort our Planning Committee put forth this year to make this important annual event such a grand success once again, and we are grateful to have such a supportive community that understands the meaning of service and sacrifice,” said Wreaths Across America of New Britain Co-Chair Dennis Taricani, Commander of WAANB organizer the Disabled American Veterans Hardware City Chapter 8.

The 7th annual event was part of the national Wreaths Across America movement. Wreaths Across America is a national nonprofit organization founded in 2007 to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. Wreaths Across America Remembers those who serve, Honors fallen veterans, and Teaches the value of freedom through the simple yet profound act of placing a commemorative holiday wreath upon a fallen Veteran’s final resting place. This year more than three million wreaths were placed at more than 4,000 participating locations nationwide.

Taking part in Saturday’s event were City of New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart; Adjutant General of the Connecticut National Guard Major General Francis Evon; Taricani along with his co-chair, Elaine Grasso Pavasaris; color guards from DAV Chapter 8, General Haller Post 111 and the New Britain High School JROTC; members of the New Britain High School Golden Hurricane Marching Band and Madrigal Singers; the Marine Corps League Detachment 781 rifle squad; the Rev. Michael Casey of St. Francis Catholic Church of New Britain; and New Britain Veterans Commission Chair John Buckley. During the ceremony a contingent of volunteers placed commemorative wreaths at the foot of Fairview’s Eagle Monument representing each of the branches of service along with POWs/MIAs. They were:  Paul Wilczawski (U.S. Army wreath); Ray Carrier (U.S. Marine Corps wreath); Joseph Salerno (U.S. Navy wreath); Diane Roth (U.S. Air Force wreath); Carol Fitzsimons (U.S. Coast Guard wreath); Sandy Tilly Roberg (U.S. Merchant Marines wreath); Lucia Miccaci (U.S. Space Force wreath); and Pat Bedard (POWs/MIAs wreath).

Major sponsors of Wreaths Across America of New Britain 2024 include Patriot Sponsors the Community Foundation of Greater New  Britain, Mayor’s Trophy Charitable Fund, Anthony Micacci and Family, Perkins Travel and Unity Lodge 148, Connecticut Freemasons; Red Sponsors Costco, Enjet Aero, Ericson, Scalise & Mangan, Mopars in Motion, New Britain Memorial and Donald D. Sagarino Funeral Home, Richards Machine, Rotary Club of New Britain-Berlin and Stew Leonard’s; and White Sponsors Acme Monaco, Home Sweet Home Realty, the Hudyma Family, Image Ink, the Rotary Club of Kensington-Berlin, Suburban Woman’s Club of Greater New Britain and Tomasso Group. Media Sponsor is The New Britain Herald. A complete listing of sponsors can be found at www.davchapter8.org/wreaths-across-america-new-britain/sponsors/

For complete information on the Wreaths Across America of New Britain initiative, please visit www.davchapter8.org/wreaths-across-america-new-britain. For information about the national Wreaths Across America movement, visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.

About the Disabled American Veterans

The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) is a non-profit 501(c)(4) charity dedicated to building better lives for America’s disabled veterans and their families. Last year, the organization provided more than 210,000 rides to veterans attending medical appointments and assisted in filing over 174,000 claims for benefits, which resulted in $26 billion in earned benefits received. With more than 1,200 chapters, including DAV Hardware City Chapter 8, and more than one million members across the country, DAV empowers our nation’s heroes and their families by helping to provide the resources they need and ensuring our nation keeps the promises made to them.

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Media Contact: Dennis Buden, DAV Hardware City Chapter 8 (860) 558-0514 dennis.buden@davchapter8.org