Longtime members Dick Fitz, 99, World War II Navy veteran, and Joe Caminiti, 100, Iwo Jima survivor, ring USS Kidd's bell to start the Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony.

 

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

Bristol, CT

On Dec. 7 at 11 a.m., American Legion Post 2 held its annual Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day outside under the flagpole at Hooker Court, Bristol, overlooking part of the Memorial Blvd. The World War II Legacy Foundation, along with the Iwo Jima Association of Connecticut, assisted. Individuals from the Woody Williams Gold Star Family Memorial Monument Committee were on hand also. On this day the Legion remembers all those who fought in World War II: the 4,762 from Bristol who enlisted in Bristol along with the 169 who never made it home. We also honor all World War II veterans no matter where they are from.
Joe Caminiti, the last known living Iwo Jima survivor in Connecticut, rang the bell from USS Kidd to begin the ceremony. Marianne Roy from the World War II Legacy Foundation read the names of the 19 from Connecticut who were killed during the Pearl Harbor attack. Dick Fitz, who in March will turn 100, is a World War II Navy veteran who said a prayer said aboard his ship whenever a fellow sailor was laid to rest at sea.
Taps was sounded. Due to a number of funerals that morning and afternoon, the American Legion Honor Guard was unable to attend. It was felt the teams and ammo that would have been used for the Pearl Harbor ceremony should be used for the burial of our veterans. We were short a person to take pictures, so the mayor volunteered.
After the ceremony Caminiti and Fitz traveled to Southington Mission BBQ, where they were honored by the staff and those there. Both were presented with a meal and talked with a number of people there.


Shown are individuals who were part of the ceremony: Gary and Marianne Roy, part of the World War II Legacy Foundation; officers of the Iwo Jima Survivor Association of Connecticut. along with being chairpersons of the Woody Williams Gold Star Family Memorial Monument Committee for Connecticut; the mayor of Bristol and John Lodovica, all standing with Joe Caminiti.

A member of the management of Mission BBQ talking to Joe about the Iwo Jima Association of America sending him to take part in a ceremony in March between the United States and Japan on Iwo Jima.

A member of the Daughters of the American Revolution was on hand to thank Joe, who on Dec. 14 will be part of their Wreaths Across America ceremony in Bristol. Joe will be doing the Marine Corps wreath and Dick will be doing the one for the Navy.

Fitz and Caminiti ringing the bell, one time for each of the 19 from Connecticut killed at Pearl Harbor.
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