5th Annual VJ Day Candlelight Ceremony of Remembrance

The Iwo Jima Memorial Historical Foundation, Inc. will be holding the 5th Annual VJ Day Candlelight Ceremony of Remembrance on Saturday, August 17th.  The public is invited to attend this FREE event and participate in this solemn ceremony by remembering a deceased loved one who served at any time in the U. S. Armed Forces.

 

The ceremony will remember and honor ALL of America's Veterans who served at ANY time in the Armed Forces and who have since passed away or who were KIA/MIA/POW.  Among those being remembered are the 100 Connecticut servicemen who were killed in action during the World War II Battle of Iwo Jima. The public is invited to participate by remembering any special veterans in their lives who has passed away. The ceremony will include singers, bagpipes, invocation, speakers, taps, rifle salute, riderless horse and the lighting of candles. The public is invited to call the name of a loved one and toll the bell for each. Everyone is invited to bring a photo of the veteran they would like to remember and place it on the "Wall of Honor" or email it to us for inclusion on a digital photo frame.  This Foundation event has been designated as the National Hub for the “Spirit of ‘45” events in Connecticut which celebrates the “can do” attitude of the Greatest Generation.

 

The Newington Memorial Funeral Home is once again generously co-sponsoring this event and assisting in the ceremony.  The ceremony will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Newington Memorial Funeral Home located at 20 Bonair Ave, Newington.  The brief ceremony will be followed by an escorted procession to the National Iwo Jima Memorial where the second part will take place.  Parking at the memorial is extremely limited and will be reserved for elderly, handicap, presenters and motorcycles.  Those wishing to attend are strongly urged to first go to the Funeral Home where a bus to the Memorial will be provided.  In case of rain, the entire ceremony will take place at the Funeral Home.

 

The Iwo Jima Memorial Historical Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization whose mission is to maintain the National Iwo Jima Memorial, educate others about the history of the Battle for Iwo Jima and to perpetuate the memory of those who fought and died there.

 

Sponsors and Volunteers are needed to help with this event. For more information, please contact Gary Roy at (860) 291-9666 or email SOSIwoJima@yahoo.com. You may also visit the Iwo Jima Survivors website or Facebook page at www.SOSIwoJima.com where more information will be posted as it develops.