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Beirut Barracks Bombing: Remember their sacrifice
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — Kat Voght of Killingly recalls thinking about the Beirut Barracks Bombing in 1983 and thinking “How could it be that no one remembers?”. Two-hundred forty-one Americans were killed and no one seemed to remember.
She recalls going into Putnam Recreation Department director Willie Bousquet’s office and asking about doing a vigil in remembrance.
She said she was advised to “Call (veteran) Don Steinbrick. He’ll help you.” And he did. Only Putnam and Bantam hold remembrance ceremonies in Connecticut. Six of the killed were from Connecticut, Voght said.
“I pray this will continue in perpetuity. Remember them,” she said.
In his remarks, veteran and Mayor Barney Seney recalled Steinbrick’s work. “The program started 11 years ago by my good friend, Don Steinbrick. It’s grown from the grassroots — from two people to this ceremony.”
The remembrance ceremony took place in Veterans Park which will be dedicated Nov. 10. “This is sacred ground,” Seney said.
Voght; Bill Schmidt, Esquire – Elks Veterans Committee; Tina Lajoie, Post #13 junior vice commander; and Brian Maynard, past Post #13 commander, read all 241 names. When one of the six Connecticut victims was read, Post 13 Senior Vice Commander Christopher Steinbrick placed an orange rose on the ground. Later those six roses were moved to the recently placed Beirut Barracks Bombing monument in Veterans Park. The six Connecticut military killed were: Private First Class Stephen D. Tingley of Ellington; Lance Corporal Thomas A. Dibenedetto of Mansfield; Lance Corporal William Hart of Groton; Corporal Devon L. Sundar of Stamford; Lance Corporal Dwayne W. Wigglesworth of Naugatuck; and Staff Sergeant Thomas G. Smith of Middletown.
Janet Muscara-Schmidt of the Elks Veterans Committee did the opening and closing prayers. Michael Rocchetti, Post #13 commander, lead the Pledge of Allegiance. The Post #13 Color Guard presented the colors.
The Putnam Elks Veterans Committee, the Mayotte-Viens American Legion Post #13 and the Albert Breault VFW Post 1523 all took part.
captions:
The Color Guard. Photo by Michael Rocchetti.
Steinbrick placed a rose in front of the podium for each CT soldier that died.
From left: Kat Voght, Mayor Barney Seney and Chris Steinbrick at the Beirut monument. More photos on FB Wed. night. Linda Lemmon photos.