State Senator Toni Boucher (R-26) is urging the public
to join her at the “Veteran of the Month Flag
Ceremony” being planned by American Legion Post
12 of Norwalk, in cooperation with American Legion Post
86 of Wilton, to honor Army Pfc. Nicholas Madaras, 19,
who was killed in Iraq in 2006.
The ceremony will be held at 11 a.m.,
Sunday, August 2nd, at American Legion Post 12, 60 County
Street, Norwalk. The media is invited.
“This will be a moving and beautiful tribute
to a wonderful young man who made the ultimate sacrifice
for his country,” said Senator Boucher, adding
that a widespread desire to meaningfully honor the Wilton
veteran has led to the founding of “Kicks For
Nick”, an organization that collects soccer balls
for distribution to youngsters in Iraq, and which has
distributed 21,000 soccer balls to date. Nick Madaras’s
mother, Shalini Madaras, who will be a speaker on August
2nd, has also been instrumental in the raising of funds
for “Homes For The Brave, Forgotten Soldiers,”
an organization that creates supportive housing for
homeless veterans.
Veteran of the Month Flag Ceremonies are held on the
first Sunday of each month at American Legion Post 12
in Norwalk. Family members are invited to participate
in the ceremony which includes flying a flag in honor
of the deceased veteran. The flag, which is flown until
the next month’s ceremony, is later given to surviving
members of the honored veteran.
American Legion 12 held its first Veteran of the Month
Flag Ceremony in 1994 by Roy Benedict and Jack Weisheit,
both members of American Legion Post 12 who were inspired
by a ceremony conducted by an American Legion Post in
Bantam. The first deceased veteran to have a flag flown
in his honor was World War II veteran Tom Riley, a former
Stamford school teacher who was a lifelong Norwalk resident.
In addition to Senator Boucher, those invited to participate
in the ceremony honoring Army Pfc. Madaras include U.S.
Congressman Jim Himes, Norwalk Mayor Richard Moccia,
Wilton First Selectman William Brennan and Shalini Madaras,
mother of Nick Madaras. Highlights of the ceremony will
include the singing of the National Anthem and God Bless
America; recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance; the
reading of a POW/MIA message, prayers, the lowering
of the flag flown for the most recently honored veteran,
presentation and flying of colors and the new flag to
be flown in honor of Army Pfc. Madaras; a motorcycle
detail and a firing detail.
Senator Boucher said she often attends the monthly
flag ceremonies at American Legion 12 in Norwalk as
a personal tribute to Connecticut veterans. She added
that she is honored to have been invited to participate
in the flag ceremony honoring Army Pfc. Nicholas Madaras.
“It does not matter whether my husband, a veteran,
or I personally knew the fine, brave individuals honored
at the monthly flag ceremonies. We go because it is
important to never forget the sacrifices made on our
behalf by the men and women who fight for our country.
Nicholas Madaras was a much-loved young man who is greatly
missed by his family, friends and community. Because
of his good example, youngsters in Iraq who love soccer
as much as he did have soccer balls, instead of tin
cans, to play with. Veterans are benefitting from the
hard work undertaken in his memory by his mother, and
others. He was a good man who spent his short life inspiring
others, and I urge everyone who can to join me in honoring
his memory at the American Legion flag ceremony on Sunday,
August 2nd at 11 a.m.,” said Senator Boucher.
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