U.S. Army Major (Retired) Daniel Eddinger, Mayor Erin Stewart to Take Part in Ceremonies Recognizing Those Who Served, Those We’ve Lost

New Britain, Conn., December 1, 2023 – The Wreaths Across America of New Britain (WAANB) project’s annual holiday season honoring of service and sacrifice will take place Saturday, December 16, with the early-morning placement of more than 1,300 wreaths on veteran gravesites at the City’s Fairview Cemetery and subsequent ceremonies commemorating national Wreaths Across America Day.

The public is invited to attend the 12 noon ceremonies at the Cemetery at 120 Smalley Street, New Britain. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremonies will take place indoors at the VFW Post 511 Hall, 41 Veterans Drive, New Britain. Any weather-related announcements or changes will be posted on the Wreaths Across America of New Britain Facebook page www.facebook.com/wreathsfornewbritain.

Members of the Wreaths Across America of New Britain Planning Committee, a cross-section of representatives from the local business, non-profit and veterans service organization communities, along with community volunteers, will gather at the Veterans Section of Fairview Cemetery at 8 a.m. to manage the distribution and placement of the wreaths at veteran gravesites throughout the cemetery.

Members of the public interested in assisting in wreath placements are asked to report to the Veterans Section of Fairview Cemetery no later than 8 a.m.

The December 16 ceremonies will feature special guest speakers Major Daniel Eddinger, USA, Retired, who is a Vietnam veteran, recipient of two Purple Hearts and Commander, Department of Connecticut Military Order of the Purple Heart; and City of New Britain Mayor Erin E. Stewart. Also taking part are Wreaths Across America of New Britain 2023 Honorary Chair State Rep. Donna Veach; Wreaths Across America of New Britain 2022 Honorary Chair Dorothy Weber; DAV Hardware City Chapter 8 Commander Dennis Taricani; New Britain Veterans Council President Tom Higgins; Pastor Thomas Mills of Grace Christian Methodist Episcopal Church; DAV Hardware City Chapter 8 Color Guard; New Britain High School JROTC Color Guard, Madrigal Singers and Golden Hurricanes Marching Band (cadence/taps only); and Marine Corps League, Hardware City Detachment 781 Rifle Squad; Also taking part are  honorary designees who will place commemorative wreaths during the ceremony saluting the U.S. Marine Corps (Christie LaBella); U.S. Army (Ed Murtha); U.S. Coast Guard (Don Naples); U.S. Navy (Robert Nowik); U.S. Air Force (Mike Kardok); U.S. Merchant Marines (Sondra Sanford); U.S. Space Force (John Hinrichs); and POWs/MIAs (Dorothy Weber).

Major sponsors of Wreaths Across America of New Britain 2023 include Patriot Sponsors the Mayor’s Trophy Charitable Fund, Anthony Micacci and Family, Perkins Travel, Richards Machine and Unity Lodge 148, Connecticut Freemasons; Red Sponsors the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain, Community Chest of New Britain and Berlin, Costco, the Good Old Boys, New Britain Memorial and Donald D. Sagarino Funeral Home, Rotary Club of New Britain-Berlin, SignPro, Stew Leonard’s and William and Donna Rutola; White Sponsors Acme Monaco, Peter Gladis Consulting, Tomasso Group, the Hudyma Family, Image Ink, Mopars in Motion, the Suburban Woman’s Club of Greater New Britain and Borinqueneers Connecticut MC.

Media Sponsors are the New Britain Herald and iHeart Media Communities. A complete list of sponsors can be found at  www.davchapter8.org/wreaths-across-america-new-britain/sponsors/.

The local Wreaths Across America initiative is organized annually by the Disabled American Veterans, Hardware City Chapter 8. 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.

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