World War II veterans help Post 2 honor guard

Bristol, CT

December 10, 2023

On December 7, 2023, four World War II veterans attended the Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day at American Legion Post 2 in Bristol, Connecticut. The veterans were Joe Caminiti, Dick Fitz, Jim Cleveland and John Fensick.

As they gathered for the ceremony, they learned that due to all the funerals that the Post 2 honor guard had been attending as the flag and rifle salute team, there was a shortage of ammo for a funeral scheduled an hour from then.

All four World War II veterans agreed that the ammo slated for the Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day rifle salute was to be given to the honor guard to ensure there was enough ammo to be used by the Legion for the rifle salute for their fellow veteran being laid to rest at West Cemetery.

Joe Caminiti said, “I am no hero. The true heroes are in the ground.” The individual who played Taps at the ceremony was a member of the honor guard. He was a Korean War veteran who had just celebrated his 94th birthday the day before. It is great when veterans help veterans.


World War II, Iwo Jima survivor Joe Caminiti rings the bell from the U.S.S. Kidd.

Three World War II veterans who attended the ceremony. Jim Cleveland, Dick Fitz and John Fensick.

Willie, who played Taps for the ceremony, just turned 94 years old. Here he is talking with the director of the Memorial Military Museum and Dick Fitz.

Pictures were shown of the 19 soldiers from Connecticut who died that morning of Dec. 7, 1941. Every time a name was read, Dick Fitz gave a salute in that person's honor.

Submitted by:
Neal Supranovich

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