With a display of 120 flags to honor local residents who serve and have served, and the town's American flag flying high above, a small group of residents and participants gathered to observe National Flag Day at North Branford Town Hall on June 14.

Accompanied by North Branford Fire Chief William Seward III on bagpipes, the North Branford Police Honor Guard and members of North Branford Boy Scout Troops 453 and 463 participated in escorting the flag. Incoming North Branford High School senior Brandon Stimpson sang the National Anthem and Boy Scout Justin Patenaude played Taps during the ceremony.

Flag Day event master of ceremonies and North Branford Air Force veteran Chuck Larkins introduced several speakers, including Town Council member George Miller, North Branford Women's Club's Barbara LaFrance (also representing Northford Women's Club) and VFW 8294's Joe Anderson. Other honored guests attending were Councilwoman Rose Marie Angeloni and Town Manager Michael Paulhus. North Branford State Representative Vincent Candelora participated in his role as Troop 453 Scout Master.

In addition to thanking participants and attendees, "...I'd like the thank the North Branford and Northford Women's Clubs for working so hard to put this event together," said Larkins.

Larkins also gave special recognition to LaFrance and the Boy Scout troops, who helped place the flags on the grounds for the Women's Club "Honor Them with a Flag" effort. LaFrance said residents requested a total of 120 flags to be added to this year's display, with 100 percent of each $10 donation per flag going to benefit Connecticut veteran's organizations. The field of 12" x 18" flags, arranged by branches of the military, will remain on display at the base of the flag pole at Town Hall through July 4. Each one is personalized with name and rank, service branch and dates of service on a white ribbon.

LaFrance said she was grateful for North Branford's show of support for veterans by participating in Honor Them with a Flag and by holding a Flag Day Ceremony.

"It's important to honor our veterans," said LaFrance. "They have done so much for our country, and this is one small way we can help and thank them for their service."

On behalf of the Town Council, Miller told those gathered, "We're very happy to have ceremonies like this in our small town, in our small state. It reminds us of what we all share, rather than sometimes focusing on what divides us."

Miller said his family had personal connections with two of the flags on display. One recognizes a friend of his wife, who gave his life in Vietnam in 1969; and one is there for Miller's own childhood friend, who died serving in the Vietnam War in 1967. Miller said these types of ceremonies are important to him because "...they allow me to remember people who are important to me."

Anderson read the names of each person honored with a flag in this year's display, and also talked about the meaning of Flag Day.  The first American flag of 13 stars on a blue field and seven red and six white stripes was adopted as the nation's symbol on June 14, 1777, he noted.

"We gather today on the birthday of our flag not only to celebrate the symbol of our nation, but to honor some of the good citizens who protect what that flag stands for: our freedoms, our unity as a nation and the brave people who created this nation," said Anderson.