American Legion Post 2 Remembers Pearl Harbor, Holds Ceremony

By Dean Wright, The Bristol Press

December 8, 2021

Dignitaries, veterans and area residents gathered at American Legion Post 2 to remember the sacrifices of those who passed in the Pearl Harbor attacks of Dec. 7, 1941.

During the ceremony Legion Commander Chris Couture introduced the day’s events, and Bristol Mayor Jeff Caggiano was invited to share a few words.

“President Roosevelt said it was a day that would live in infamy and he committed America to our second World War…,” said Caggiano. “Generations later, I’m going to ask everybody in Bristol to honor and remember the sacrifices made on that day…We do have surviving members of the World War II era and that’s the greatest generation… My hope is that future generations cherish those freedoms and liberty that were earned by the sacrifices of the brave men and women that serve our nation.”

As part of the event, those gathered paid tribute to the memory of the late Major Ed Riccio Jr., a survivor of the Pearl Harbor attacks. Riccio Jr. went on to be awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross. He died in 2016. He flew as a crewmember aboard a B-17 bomber.

“He was there at Pearl when they first hit,” said Steve Larson, son-in-law to Riccio Jr. “He was in the barracks and just waking up and he heard an explosion and thought a hot water heater blew. He ran to the window and saw the dive bombers coming right towards him. By the time he yelled to get everyone out of there, the bomb went off in there and scraped the barracks and blew him right out the doorway.”

Larson said that only two individuals survived the barracks bombing, one of them being Riccio, Jr. Between 60 to 70 others died.

Riccio Jr. would serve as a pilot and had a “long and colorful” career ahead of him, said Larson.

Bristol Historical Society Board Liaison to the Memorial Military Museum Carol Denehy also recounted the stories of Bristol World War II veterans who returned during the ceremony.

“I appreciate so much that Post 2 continues the tradition of gathering family and friends together to revisit the stories of our veterans past and present. Every Post 2 ceremony includes a ringing of the bell from the USS Kidd 661,” said Denehy.

She read names of 18 individuals who died at Pearl Harbor from Connecticut. Eric Allen, Henry Ludwig Carlson, Edward Gosselin, Vincent Horan, Paul Morris Johnson, Henry John Lanouette, John Kallervo Luntta, William T. O’Neill Jr., Stanislaus Orezch, Richard Patterson Jr., George Povesko, Michael George Quarto, Thomas James Reeves, William Eugene Seeley, George Smith, Gordon Sterling Jr., Felix Wegrzyn and Ulmont Whitehead Jr.

The Memorial Military Museum had an exhibit of World War II artifacts available for visitors to view. Gary Roy and Marianne Mihalyo, of the traveling World War II Museum, also had a display of era artifacts and uniforms.

Past American Legion historian Neal Supranovich encouraged the assembled to speak with families and friends as the traveling World War II Museum and the Memorial Military Museum were looking to collect further artifacts and stories.

World War II veterans attending the event were invited to stand and be honored for their services. They were Caminiti of the Marines, Joe Cristafero of the Army and Rosario Lombardo of the Navy. David Peplau gave an introductory prayer. Art Ward and Tim Gamache led the prisoners of war and missing in action remembrance ceremony. World War II Marine Corps veteran Joe Caminiti also rang the bell from the USS Kidd in honor of veterans and their sacrifices.