NEW BRITAIN, Conn. — Where Main Street in New Britain meets the Central Park Veterans Memorial, a large crowd gathered Monday to take part in the city’s Veterans Day service.
The service has become a tradition in New Britain, bringing servicemen and women from every branch to the monument to be honored.
Commander John Buckley, who served in the US Navy until he retired two decades ago, was the emcee of the service.
“It honors everyone who went to boot camp, took an oath and went out and did their best to serve honorably,” Buckley said.
A familiar face at the service was 88-year-old John Lynch of Berlin, a retired Marine veteran who proudly still wears his Marine colors at the event.
“As you get older it becomes more and more important because it was a big part of your life and the Marine Corp gave me a new perspective on life that I would not have had otherwise," Lynch said. "We paid our dues and I think that's extremely important."
Korean War and Army Combat Veteran Samuel Jimenez, 92, said right before the service began, “I was 19 years old and I was fighting in the mountains of Korea, you know we were fighting for our country, for freedom.”
“Veterans’ Day should be every day,” Buckley said. “When you see a veteran ask them their story, you’ll be amazed at what they have done.”
Jimmy Altman is a reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at jaltman@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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