PHOTOS: Avon Public Schools Celebrate Local Veterans

Avon students may just have gotten back to school on Thursday, but that did not deter the district from honoring local residents who served in the military.

Veterans of the Avon VFW toured town Friday on a DATTCO coach bus with Superintendent Gary Mala and Board of Education Chairwoman Peggy Roell for Veterans Day services and visits to district schools.

Avon Historical Society President Terri Wilson had just told her neighbors Thursday about needing help to provide food for the veterans' breakfast following the Church of Saint Ann's Veterans Day service and they mobilized quickly to bake a spread of food for the next morning.

Roaring Brook School students went to a Veterans Day ceremony at the Avon Town Green, waiving small American flags. The larger ones on the town's veterans memorial monument flowed in the heavy winds.

The following local veterans have passed away since Veterans Day 2010:

• Richard D. Harris, Navy, World War II (died December 2010)
• Harold B. Schaal, Navy, World War II, Europe (died January 2011)
• Anthony Rizzo, Navy, World War II, Pacific (died April 2011)
• Richard O. Bensh, Army, World War II (died May 2011)
• Arthur C. Neriani, Army, World War II hero (died July)
• Edward Zionce, Army, World War II, Europe (died July
• Timothy L. Curran, Army, World War II, Europe (died August 2011)
• Alfred H. Wahl, Army, World War II, Europ (died September 2011)
• Robert J. Matava, Marine Corps, World War II, Pacific (died Nov. 4, 2011)
• Thomas B. Richardson, Army, Japan (died Nov. 10, 2011)