World War II veterans help Post 2 honor guard

World War II veterans help Post 2 honor guard

On December 7, 2023, four World War II veterans attended the Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day at American Legion Post 2 in Bristol, Connecticut. The veterans were Joe Caminiti, Dick Fitz, Jim Cleveland and John Fensick.

As they gathered for the ceremony, they learned that due to all the funerals that the Post 2 honor guard had been attending as the flag and rifle salute team, there was a shortage of ammo for a funeral scheduled an hour from then.

All four World War II veterans agreed that the ammo slated for the Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day rifle salute was to be given to the honor guard to ensure there was enough ammo to be used by the Legion for the rifle salute for their fellow veteran being laid to rest at West Cemetery.

Joe Caminiti said, “I am no hero. The true heroes are in the ground.” The individual who played Taps at the ceremony was a member of the honor guard. He was a Korean War veteran who had just celebrated his 94th birthday the day before. It is great when veterans help veterans.