By Frank MacEachern, November 3, 2014
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — A veteran of the Pacific Campaign during World War II said he has told schoolchildren to cherish what they have because many an American has given their life for freedom.
“I try to tell them that what they have today didn’t come easy,” Nicholas Angelicola said during a ceremony in Bridgeport on Sunday.
Angelicola, 92, of Stratford was one of four veterans honored with the Service to Country and Community Award in a luncheon at the Port 5 Naval Veterans building on Sunday. The veterans were honored by The WorkPlace, the state Department of Labor and Veterans Affairs and Housatonic Community College.
Angelicola, who was born in Bridgeport but has lived in Stratford for the last 55 years where he operated a service station, remembered the many Americans who gave their lives in World War II.
“There were 440,000 Americans killed in World War II. That’s a lot of people,” he said with a slight shake of his head as his wife, Rose, sat beside him.
Walter Bills, of Shelton, an Army veteran of the Vietnam War; Robert Dornfried, of Kensington, an Army veteran of the Korean War; and Gordon Bergman, a Marine veteran who served in Vietnam, were also honored.
Joseph Carbone, president and chief executive officer of the The WorkPlace, said veterans are among the most committed people he knows.
“This is a chance for me to come here and say, ‘Thank You’ ” Carbone told his audience.
The WorkPlace is one of five Workforce Development Boards in the state that help people prepare for careers. It was originally incorporated as the Private Industry Council of Southern Connecticut in 1983. In May 1992, the Connecticut General Assembly established The WorkPlace as one of nine Regional Workforce Development Boards in the state to conduct comprehensive planning, and coordinate regional workforce development policy and programs.
Veterans Day is little more than one week away, and for Master Chief Richard Iannucci, U.S. Navy Reserves, retired commander of Port 5 Naval Veterans, it’s an important day.
“I love Veterans Day, it is better than Christmas,” he said. ‘I am a true veteran and I love veterans.”
Article source: http://bridgeport.dailyvoice.com/neighbors/veterans-earn-accolades-service-bridgeport-event