Paul Baker will speak at Veterans Day ceremony Wednesday

Written by Bob Tulipani, American Legion
Tuesday, 10 November 2009 06:12

Paul Baker, a native Ridgefielder, veteran of World War II and the Korean War, and noted longtime area sports reporter and commentator, will be the main speaker when members of the American Legion, Marine Corps League and Veterans of Foreign Wars have a Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the Veterans Park Memorial Community Center.

Mr. Baker is also remembered for his radio program, Ridgefield Now and Then, and being the first chairman of the Ridgefield Old Timers Association.

First Selectman Rudy Marconi will also speak.

Maddie Joyner will be singing the National Anthem and God Bless America. Hank Williams, an American Legion member, Aimee Montanari and Faith Sherry will be singing America and America the Beautiful.

American Legion members Jim Connelly, George Schuster and Hank Williams will give readings, and Jennifer Slover, a member of the Marine Corps League, will give a reading honoring women veterans.

Chaplains from the American Legion (John Gillaugh), Marine Corps League (Frank Kunz) and Veterans of Foreign Wars (Peter Casagrande) will be offering prayers.

Members of Cub Scout Pack 74 will be placing a wreath upon a memorial honoring those veterans from Ridgefield who died during World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam Conflict.

The program will conclude with a 21-gun salute and taps played by buglers from the Ridgefield High School Band.

“The veterans are grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Prial and their committee and Mrs. Dawn Auslander, leader of Cub Scout Pack 74, for providing refreshments after the ceremony,” said Bob Tulipani of the American Legion.

Veterans were honored at St. Mary’s Catholic School on Monday, Nov. 9, and will be honored at East Ridge Middle School and Scott Ridge Middle School on today, Nov. 10. Those veterans attending East Ridge Middle School should arrive there at 8:15 a.m. and those going to Scotts Ridge should be at the Ridgefield High School auditorium by 8:30 a.m.

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