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Apple Rehab Honors Fallen Veterans at Annual Ceremony

On June 6, local and state officials joined the staff and residents of Apple Rehab to honor deceased veterans who have been residents at its Guilford facility. Jay Caruso, the therapeutic recreation director, began the ceremony when he started working at Apple Rehab.

“Part of my job was doing something for the men, and I thought this would be a really good thing to do,” said Caruso. “This is one of the bigger projects we came up with.”

Caruso has been working with Ken Arden, a maintenance worker at Apple Rehab, to create 18 white crosses honoring each of the deceased veterans. They have been working on the project for the past four months. The crosses, which are inscribed with the residents’ names, will remain on display

“I invited the family members of each of the residents who have passed, and we’ll have a big dedication,” said Caruso. “With the help of Cub Scout Pack 422, we put an American flag in front of each one.”

The ceremony began at Friends & Company, followed by a march to the Apple Rehab facility. The Guilford High School band performed “Taps,” while Horace Little and Margaret Bruno sang.

In addition to the families of the deceased veterans, the residents and staff of Apple Rehab, and Apple Rehab corporate representative Jack Blynton, guests included members of VFW Post 766 and American Legion Post 48, Guilford First Selectman Joe Mazza, Madison First Selectman Fillmore McPherson, State Representative Sean Scanlon, State Representative Vincent Candelora, the 102nd Infantry of Branford, Cub Scout Pack 422 of North Guilford, and Army Lieutenant Vincent Giordano, Jr.

After the ceremony, there was a cookout with hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, and refreshments.

Honorees for the 2015 ceremony include Carl Anderson, Steven Dipier, Conrad Fadel, Steven Finta, Paul Hansen, Robert Martindale, Frank Modell, Fred Muerrle, Theodore Mumaugh, Louis Onoforio, John Orfice, Andrew Pace, William Patten, Raymond Rinaldi, Frank Taft, Richard True, Joseph Vitczak, and Arthur Wright.