Walk pg 6 6-21-12
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- Category: Past Issues
caption, page 12:
Dedicated
The "Walk of Honor," spearheaded by Woodstock's Tom Pandolfi, was dedicated June 14, Flag Day, at the Woodstock Town Hall. Linda Lemmon photo.
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
WOODSTOCK --- His son did two tours of duty and had three Humvees blown up under him and took a full chest shot and full back shot.
Tom Pandolfi of Woodstock Valley, thought the best way to honor those from Connecticut who gave the ultimate sacrifice was to create a "Walk of Honor."
Started in 2005 and originally displayed in Rocky Hill, the 64 engraved 12 x 12 memorial pavers display the names of all military, civilian and DOD personnel who gave the ultimate sacrifice in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. This is the only memorial of its kind in Connecticut. There are service members from Eastford, Ashford, Thompson and Brooklyn represented on the "Walk." Donny Deconstanzo moved the stones to Woodstock's Town Hall.
Pandolfi is a member of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Dept. of Defense organization. He's also a service rep for the American Legion for the state Soldiers Sailors Marines Fund, for Woodstock and Putnam.
Pandolfi said "I remember how the Vietnam veterans were treated when they came home and those of us who lived through that treatment of these veterans need to make sure that it never happens again and their memories are preserved."
Todd Smith, commander of the Benson Fluegel American Legion Post 111 of Woodstock, in his welcome to the dedication of the Walk, said, "Our heroes are not in sports. Our heroes are not in Hollywood. They are here."