Hometown Heroes
Capt. Addison Warner, U.S. Army 
By Michael Rocchetti
Captain Addison G Warner was a Union Army Officer and Cavalry Commander from Putnam who fought and died in the Civil War. His gallantry and heroism was so notable that Putnam’s Civil War Veterans Organization was named in his honor – the Addison G. Warner Post #54 of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Warner was the son of Benjamin and Sally Warner. He was born Nov. 19, 1835, in New York.  By 1860, he was living in Pomfret with his younger sister Harriet and her family, and he was working in Putnam as the high school principal. After the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted for a three-month stint as a Private with Rifle Company A of the 2nd CT Volunteer Infantry Regiment. In May of 1861 his unit was sent to Northern Virginia to help defend Washington D.C. Here they saw action at the First Battle of Bull Run. Afterwards, the unit returned to Connecticut, and by Aug. 7, 1861 he was mustered out. Upon his return to Putnam he married Angeline Elizabeth Gleason. They had one daughter – Pamela Sarah Warner, born in Pomfret.
Warner re-enlisted as a Captain in the Union Army on Dec. 30, 1863, as the Commander of Company I, of the 1st Regiment CT Volunteer Cavalry, part of the Cavalry Corps under the command of General Philip Sheridan. Warner saw action in the Overland Campaign of 1864 in numerous engagements in Virginia including the battles of Grove Church, Todd’s Tavern, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, Mechanicsville and Ashland.
The Battle of Ashland, on June 1, 1864, found the 1st CT Cavalry, along with other Union regiments, nearly surrounded by Confederate forces in the town of Ashland, Vir., north of Richmond. The following account of the battle, from The Military and Civil History of Connecticut During the War of 1861-1865, by W. A. Croffut and John M. Morris, describes Captain Addison G. Warner’s bravery and how he died:
"Confederate rebels charged down two of the roads on Warner’s position, but his squadron resisted the onset, and turned it back. The rebels mounted another charge. Captain Warner was shot through the body. Though mortally wounded, he kept his saddle, and continued to rally and cheer on his men with determined and extraordinary courage. He soon received three other gunshot wounds, when, faint from loss of blood, he fell from his horse, and died gloriously. Sergeant Alexander McDonald of Norfolk CT, who assisted him on the field after he was wounded, wrote the following account:
“I was only a few feet from him when the rebels came charging upon us, and could hear his calm, bold tone of command, ‘Stand fast, boys! Give it to them!’ When numbers forced us to retire, and brave Major Blakeslee rallied us again, I saw Capt. Warner standing about a dozen yards in front of the regiment. I rode up, and asked him what he was doing there. He said, ‘Mac, I’m wounded in the shoulder.’ I urged him to go to the rear. He refused. The regiment swept forward, and we with them. The captain, regardless of his wound, was again foremost in the fight, and held his ground when it became a hand-to-hand contest. We were for a moment separated; when Sergeant Wheeler called out, ‘Mac, Captain’s wounded.’ In a moment, I was at his side. His first wound was through his body, close under his shoulder: that he did not seem to mind. The next broke his leg below the knee, and he was unsteady in the saddle. Wheeler caught him as we turned him around, —almost by force; for he insisted on facing the enemy. We had gone but a few steps, when another ball struck him in his thigh, severing an artery. He was in possession of all his faculties; but he did not betray pain. A moment more, and a ball passed through his head; but even this did not cause instant death. He was now very weak; and I had my arm around him, trying to guide the horses with the other. We struck a tree, which separated us; and he fell. His foot caught in the stirrup, and he was dragged some distance, until the horse, by kicking, disengaged him. We rallied, drove the rebels back, and brought the captain off. I took his head on my lap, and asked him if he knew me. ‘Yes, —Mac,’ said he. ‘Oh, my poor wife and child!’ And then his face would change, and he would cry, ‘Rally, boys! — rally for the old flag!’ . . . When we dug a grave to bury our heroic commander, the bullets flew like hail.”
Capt. Warner was reburied, at the Grove Street Cemetery in Putnam. In Putnam, Post #54 of the Grand Army of the Republic was established 13 April 1882, and named in memory of him. Hometown Heroes is a series published in the Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger with this mission: We owe it to our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines to make sure that they are never forgotten, and that the memory of their service and sacrifice will forever live on in the hearts and minds of the grateful people of Putnam.

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‘Harbor of childhood holds us no more’
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — “Authentic voices” and “confidence” were some of inspiring words for the graduates at the 148th Putnam High School commencement June 11. 
One bit of that inspiration came from Principal Heather Taylor and her reminiscences of watching Mr. Rogers as a kid. 
Rogers’ “authentic voice” reached "millions of children over decades, including me as I sat glued to the screen on those special occasions cross-legged on our living room shag rug (it was orange),” she said. “Fred Rogers showed us that finding our authentic voice isn’t about being the loudest. It’s about speaking your truth with conviction, especially when it matters most.” 
She added: “You’re celebrating not just academic achievements. You’re celebrating finding your unique voice in this world and what incredible voices you have developed.” She called it a “journey of uncovering your values, your passions, and summoning the courage to express them, even when it’s really, really hard.” 
She read a few of the responses to the challenge given the students to write about “your journey to find your voice at Putnam High School.” 
She urged students to protect and nurture the voice they found at PHS as they head out into the world. 
School Superintendent Steve Rioux reminded the students of the special community they came from. The community, in raising more than $100,000 for scholarships, showed not generosity. “It showed belief. These people believe in you and they want to see you succeed. He cautioned the students to remain “intentional” in a world transforming the way we learn and the way we connect with one another. He said “be careful of the digital imprint left on you.” He added: “Miss Taylor’s advice about your authentic voice … As AI becomes more embedded in this daily life … it’s ever more important to be intentional.” He challenged graduates to build a strong mind.
Rioux reminded graduates that this is a town where people work hard. A community is “part of your foundation. It’s a town that shows up. It’s a town that believes in education.
“So when you’re moving forward, always remember your community.”
Salutatorian Isabelle Magalhaes recalled that as freshmen they were tasked with writing a letter to their future selves. Reading it four years later she saw how many times she wrote “I don’t know.” She said she and her fellow grads have since “figured out a whole lot more about life.” 
Isabel Porter read her Class Ode, titled “Leaving the Harbor.” It poetically described the class journey from the start, the trials they underwent. ”But now we’re sailors ready for anything. No longer bound to the school, this shore. Harbor of childhood holds us no more.”
Valedictorian Madison Lamothe echoed that seafaring theme in her words.  She spoke about the lessons learned during high school and noted that the teacher’s smiling face was like a compass, allowing us to navigate unfamiliar seas.“ She said: “Don’t look back. Sail onward, Clippers, to your desired future. You are the one holding the compass.”
The Citizen of the Year award went to Erika Ponciano. The Educator of the Year award went to John Allen and the Student of the Year award went to Madison Lamothe.
Putnam High School’s award winning a capella group sang the National Anthem and “It’s so Hard to Say Goodbye.”
Lamothe also won valedictorian honors and the salutatorian honors went to Isabelle Magalhaes
Graduates include:
Raihden Albino (H); Lucas Benoit (HH); Alex Bissonnette; Natalie Braga; Sawyer Britt (HH, NHS); Leia Kerry Brown; Ahmyas Cardona (H); Brooke Andi Champagne (H); Anthony John Rocco Cosentino (HH, NHS); Owen P. Daley; Aaliyah Daughenbaugh (H); Lillian Ennis (H); Antonio Manuel Furtado (HH); Melanie Savannah Garcia (HH); Caden Gluck (H); Ayva Jane Goguen; Yakelin Gomez Flores (H, NHS); Olivia Paige Hetrick (HH, NHS); Cayden J. Holmes; Logan LaFrance (HH); Deven M.  Lamothe (H); Madison Lamothe (HH, NHS); Alexandria Le Landry; Lane LeBlanc; Anthony Thomas Lowell; Isabelle A. Magalhaes (HH); Evan D. Mailloux (HH, NHS); Tim Maltais; Madison A. Marcou; Kaylee M. Mayo (HH, NHS; Edy Eduardo Morente Mendez (HH); Ava Morrison (HH); Dominic John Navedo; Emily Olecki (HH); Jacob C. Olson (HH); Izayah Olson Suarez; Alexus Beatrice Paquin; Nathaniel D. Pearsall (HH); Zoe Ann Pehowdy; Isabel Renaye Porter (HH, NHS); Jamison Riley Proulx (H); Whitney Laure Pynn (H, NHS); Damien R. Shea (H); Gianna Marie Simas; Clara Souza (HH, NHS); Sean Aiden Stamp; Santino Michael Stevens; Hailey G. Summers (HH, NHS); Alex Suzedelis; Gage Tucker; Justin J. Vukas (HH, NHS); McKenna R. Williams (HH); Stanislaus Wolczak; Ava Ariel Wolinski; Jasmin M. Wolinski.
*(H) – honors; (HH) – high honors; (NHS) – National Honor Society.

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More photos on page 4. Expanded photo array Wed. night on our FB page. Linda Lemmon photo.

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Lucas Benoit

Kaylee Mayo was excited

More photos Wed. night on our FB page. Linda Lemmon photos.

Roundup
Bring home 
top-5 finishes
It meant that Woodstock Academy senior Juliet Allard had to adjust her graduation schedule activities. But she was more than willing to do so to be able to compete in the New England Track Championship Saturday.
The senior made the most of her final time in a Woodstock Academy uniform as she helped her teammates to a third-place finish in the 4x400-meter relay.
“She had a chance with her teammates to forge to the front of the pack and they did throughout the race,” said coach Josh Welch. “It was one of their fastest performances all season and secured them All-New England honors.”
Joined by junior Emma Weitknecht, sophomore Elise Coyle and freshman Bella Amlaw, the Centaurs finished the event in 4 minutes, 18 seconds. It was the second top-5 finish of the day for Woodstock. Junior Isabel D’Alleva-Bochain launched a 119-foot, 9-inch throw in the javelin in her second attempt which had some staying power as she finished fifth.
Allard had hoped to also finish high in the 300-meter hurdles but had to settle for an eighth-place finish in 45.59 seconds.
Junior Avery Plouffe also did not have the best day of her season in the shotput as she finished 12th with a throw of 36-feet, 2 ½ inches.
Girls’ Hockey
Girls’ hockey co-op player, senior defense Juliette Hammer from Ledyard, has committed to play hockey for Worcester State University.
She is believed to be the first Woodstock Academy girls’ hockey alum to move on to play at the next level.
Hammer served as captain for the Centaurs and was a team leader both on and off the ice.
“From Day 1, she showed the kind of heart and leadership that every coach dreams of. Her commitment to improving every day is what made this possible. She was an absolute privilege to coach,” coach Eric Roy said. She finished with one goal and five assists this season for the Centaurs.
Boys’ Golf
There was, admittedly, a little frustration after an eighth-place finish in the ECC championship tournament the week before.
But how that frustration would manifest itself at the CIAC Div. II state championship tournament last week was the question mark.
“There was a lot of frustration. I felt it. I know I could sense it whether or not they were saying it or admitting it. I think they all knew what I’ve known since the beginning of April that this team had a lot of potential to challenge some really good teams and we did,” coach Rich Garceau said.
The Centaurs finished with a 325 total, just 16 strokes behind Div. II state champion, RHAM. Tolland (319) finished second and Ellington (323) third.
Garceau was out on the course watching the online scores coming in and knew his team had a good chance at a top-5 finish, predicting the fourth-place finish about an hour and a half before his team played its final holes.
Senior Jayden Fuller and junior Aidan O’Connor led the way as each brought in a 78.
Fuller, in his first year in the sport, completed it on a high note. O’Connor has another year to play for the Centaurs which makes Garceau happy as well.
It was one of his best efforts of the season.
Senior Logan Rawson added an 84 and sophomore Brady Hebert was one stroke back of that.
Girls’ Golf
A pleasant day it was not — as has often been the case this spring season.
The girls’ golf team traveled to the CIAC Division II state tournament on Tuesday.
The Centaurs and the other girls’ teams, playing 18 holes for the first time this season, were greeted by rain.
“It was an experience. The longest, wettest day ever on the course. Brutal conditions,” said coach Earl Semmelrock. "They certainly exceeded my expectations.” The Centaurs finished with a 423 total.
Berlin launched past everyone to take home the title with a 335 total, 31 strokes better than runner-up Masuk.
Coventry and Killingly, the only teams that the Centaurs had played during the season, finished third and 12th respectively.
Junior Lilliana Moran led the Centaurs with a 94 while sophomore Reagan Scheck came in with a 97.
Sophomores Isabelle Tedisky and Finley Hamilton and freshman Colbie O’Connor also played for the Centaurs.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy

2025 Woodstock Acad New England winners, from left: Emma Weitknecht, Elise Coye, Isabel D’Alleva-Bochain, Juliet Allard and Bella Amlaw were all smiles after the New England Track and Field Championships that saw the Centaurs bring home two top-5 finishes in the 4x400-meter relay and javelin competitions.

2025 New England javelin: Woodstock Academy junior Isabel D’Alleva-Bochain (far right) made the podium with a fifth-place finish at the New England Track and Field championship.
 
2025 New England 4x400 relay podium: The Woodstock Academy quartet got to enjoy some time on the podium after a third-place finish at the New England track and field championships. Photos by Josh Welch/Woodstock Academy

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