The 3rd Annual Iwo Jima/World War II Veterans Reunion took place in March at the American Legion Post 2 Hall on Hooker Court in Bristol.
After the Pledge of Allegiance and national anthem, the chaplain for the Korean Veterans Association said a prayer. When he finished, 100-year-old Dick Fitz said a prayer he used when a crew member died and was committed to the sea during the war.
Patrick Nelligan is a retired command chief warrant officer 5 (CW5) with over 40 years of military and leadership experience. He works as lead biomedical equipment support specialist at VA. Among other leadership roles, he currently serves as chairman of the Board of Trustees for the CT Department of Veterans Affairs. The presentations began with Fitz receiving a certificate and medal he got from the then-president of Russia in 1993 in the mail; no formal presentation had been ever made.
Next, Nelligan presented Fitz with the CT Wartime Service Medal and ribbon he had slipped through the cracks and never gotten. The medal was pinned on by Nelligan’s son. A certificate was presented on behalf of the CT Veterans Affairs Commissioner, and Nelligan presented Fitz with one of his coins.
State Rep. Mary Fortier presented certificates from the lieutenant governor and Sen. Blumenthal’s office. State Sen. Henri Martin and Cara Pavalock D’Amato presented a certificate from the state lawmakers.
The Department of CT senior vice commander read a proclamation written by the national commander to Fitz.
Don Scott, an artist from New York state who paints World War II veterans, unveiled a painting he had done of Fitz. The artist presented a framed copy to the Fitz family after talking about what he knew of Dick and his wild time with his riding tractor; in London being bombed; getting into Parliament to see Sir Winston Churchill; being blessed by the pope in Italy as a Baptist. The artist handed over am unframed copy of the painting to the Post 2 vice commander. Dick signed the copy, and the Legion then presented it to Scott Stanton of the Bristol Public Library. The Legion also handed over donations made by the Korean Veterans Association and John Lodovica covering the cost of framing the copy. The goal is to hang the Fitz painting next to Joe Caminiti’s in the library across from Mr. Riccio’s, to honor our World War II veterans.