The service and sacrifice of Norwich veterans was honored in ceremonies held at Veterans Memorial Park in Taftville. Local veterans, their family members and other supporters joined area government and civic officials for the city’s annual tribute to those living and dead who served in the military.

The 11 a.m. gathering on Nov. 11 marked the exact moment 103 years ago when the Armistice ending World War I was signed. Since then, Armistice Day, and later, Veterans Day, has been noted annually, to pay tribute to those in the armed forces.

The Norwich event was a joint collaboration of the Peter Gallan American Legion Post 104 in Taftville, the Norwich Area Veterans Council, and the Frederick J.Sullivan VFW Post 2212 in Taftville.

Speakers talked about family members who served in previous conflicts. State Rep. Doug Dubitsky, R-47th District, and Norwich City Manager John Salomone each had fathers who served in World War II. Both said their dads didn’t talk much about their war experiences.

Dubitsky’s father was an electrician in the Brooklyn (N.Y.) naval yards, who later became ill due to exposure to asbestos.

“Dad didn’t wear his service on his sleeve,” said Dubitsky. “He never got involved in veterans groups, but he held it in his heart. ...When we recognize our veterans, we have to look under the surface, too, and see there are plenty of people out there who are vets that you may not even know they served, because they don’t talk about it.”

Salomone’s father served under Gen. George Patton and was injured in the Battle of the Bulge. Like Dubitsky’s father, Salomone says his father never spoke about his military experiences. His mother said his father, though, wasn’t the same after the war.

“For example, Dad always loved the snow and sledding before the war,’’ said Salomone. “But, after fighting in the bitter cold in Belgium, he never looked at snow the same way again. It shows how life-changing (military combat) can be.”

State Sen. Cathy Osten, D-19th District, a Vietnam-era veteran, urged Congress to finally acknowledge the accomplishments of the Nurse Cadet Corps, who served in World War II.

“They’re the last group of people that haven’t been identified by the federal government as veterans,” she said. “They should be recognized as the veterans they are.”

She noted Connecticut has recognized them, but the Feds haven’t.

The keynote speaker, Norwich City Historian Dale Plummer, talked about the 56th Field Artillery Unit, compromised of re-trained National Guardsmen from the Norwich-New London area, who served in France during World War I. Plummer said the unit was caught in German cross-fire, where it suffered its first casualties. The first person from that unit who was killed was Master Sergeant Robert Fletcher of Norwich.

“Fletcher grew up on Lincoln Avenue, graduated from Norwich Free Academy, and was the sports editor of the Norwich Bulletin, before serving in the war,” said Plummer.

American Legion Post 4 in Norwich bears his name.

Plummer is chairman of Norwich’s World War I Committee, which has been holding events to remember those who served in the conflict. The group has been raising funds to restore a German Howitzer that was captured in the war and brought to Norwich as a war trophy.

“The return of the howitzer meant a tremendous amount to the men who served in the 56th Artillery and in other regiments,” said Plummer, “because they experienced being hit by shells fired by guns like this. It reminded them of what they had suffered.”

Two local residents were honored during the Taftville ceremony for the work they do for local veterans and the community. Tom Peters was presented with the Veteran of the Year award by the Norwich Area Veterans Council for his involvement in Toys for Tots and other programs. Longtime Veterans Auxiliary member Marion Laroux-Mansour was named the Robert A.Murphy Supporter of the Year by the Vets Council. Laroux-Mansour was congratulated for her help with, among other things, the weekly Norwich Veterans Coffeehouse, volunteering food and snacks for the events. She was also responsible for helping to fill more than 100 boxes of items to deployed military units overseas to provide some comforts of home, as well as bringing food baskets to local homebound veterans.

“I just enjoy the veterans,” said Laroux-Mansour. “They appreciate anything and everything you do for them. I can never do enough for them, in light of all they’ve done for us and our country. They make me feel like I’m one of them, even though I never served.”

Laroux-Mansour, along with the President of the American Legion Post 104 Auxiliary Judy Lehosky, have been instrumental in re-establishing the auxiliary there after many years absence. The group just got its charter in September.

An American flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol, plus an auxiliary banner was presented to the two women. Both the flag and banner will fly at the Post home on Merchants Avenue.

According to data mentioned during the Veterans Day gathering, 81,757 American soldiers remain unaccounted for since World War II.