Riverton Grange honors veterans during monthly ceremony

Jun. 17—BARKHAMSTED — Riverton Grange #169 held the 13th monthly Veterans Salute on June 5 to an overflow crowd, when the American flag was retired in honor of the May Veteran of the Month, U.S. Navy World War II Veteran Edward A. Sweeney, and raised in honor of U.S. Navy Cold War veteran Danamarie Towers.

Riverton American Legion Post #159 Commander Timothy Sweeney, son of veteran Edward A. Sweeney and an Army veteran, presented the retired American flag to his father on behalf of the President of the United States and a grateful nation for his father's service, according to grange president Dave Roberts.

Roberts presented a shadow box, carrying bag, and framed certificate signed by National Grange President Betsy Huber to retired Edward Sweeney, who was accompanied to the event by his wife.

The June 2022 honoree is U.S. Navy Cold War Veteran Danamarie Towers, who served from February 1983 to February 2005. Towers is the first female veteran honored under this initiative. Her mother attended the ceremony from Maine, along with other friends and relatives.

"Her husband Adam Towers spoke eloquently and emotionally about how proud is he of his wife's service to our nation both while on active duty and in retirement when she continued to serve other veterans when she was an employee of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs," Roberts said. "Towers told one story about how his wife helped secure an emotional service dog for a veteran with PTSD. He also shared that his wife's service to veterans was one of the many attributes that attracted her to him when they met in Maine."

"Each month, we are hearing of true heroic acts of service by men and women who sacrificed all for our freedom. For May and June, we have seen and met generations of veterans, one from World War II and one from the Cold War, one man and one woman, who both cherish this nation and want to make sure that no one forgets the sacrifices that the few make for the many," Roberts said. "Riverton Grange is so pleased to offer this community building opportunity each month with the support from so many other local groups."

Riverton Grange, Barkhamsted Lions, and Barkhamsted Seniors also sold poppies and presented American Legion Post #159 with the proceeds of their poppy sales.

The range started hosting monthly Veteran Salute ceremonies in July 2021 at the recommendation of American Legion National Committeeman Joe Jackson of New Hartford and the attendance has grown steadily each month. This month was the largest attendance yet, with close to 80 in attendance to the standing room only event, Roberts said.

The ceremonies are hosted in partnership with the Riverton American Legion Post #159 Honor Guard, Town of Barkhamsted and First Selectman Don Stein, singer Lorraine Paul, Barkhamsted Senior Center, and the Barkhamsted and Northwestern CT Cyber Lions Clubs. Royal Coachman Tavern at the Old Riverton Inn underwrote the costs for the first two years of the program.

On the first Sunday of each month, a new local area veteran is selected by Riverton Grange. An American flag is flown for one month in honor of the veteran or their family. The following month, the veteran or their family is presented with the flag, a shadow box for displaying the flag, and a Certificate of Appreciation signed by the National Grange President.

The 14th scheduled ceremony is on Sunday, July 3, at 6 PM at the Barkhamsted Senior Center. If you would like to nominate a veteran, living or deceased, from throughout the local region, contact Riverton Grange President Dave Roberts at 858-775-9241 or dave@daveroberts.org.

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