Avon Bridge Named in Memory of Corporal Consolini

The Avon VFW requested in December 2009 that the bridge over the Farmington River on Route 44 in Avon be named in memory of Corporal Gildo T. Consolini, a native son, who was killed-in-action in the South Pacific during World War II.

State Senator Kevin Wilkos (Connecticut's 8th District) graciously agreed to sponsor our request and submitted a proposal to the Transportation Committee asking that they raise a bill renaming the bridge in Avon as the "Corporal Gildo T. Consolini Memorial Bridge." Recenty, plaques were erected at both ends of the bridge and Senator Wilkos made a presentation of the memorial plaque to the Avon Post Commander Grant Hagedorn and 30 Post Veterans at their weekly coffee gathering at Friendly's Restaurant.

Since our Avon Post is officially called the Gildo T. Consolini Post, this bridge dedication is close to the hearts of all our veterans. There are now only a few of our WWII Veterans who knew him and some, now deceased, who served with him in the South Pacific with the 169th Regiment of the 43rd Infantry Division.

One of these veterans - Sergeant Ray Zacchera - was with him when he was killed. Ray told us the loss of his close friend, Gildo Consolini, was one of the saddest days of his life. Ray would have been very pleased to see this bridge dedicated to Corporal Consolini. 

As Avon's first Gold Star Soldier in WWII, Corporal Consolini was killed on July 13, 1943 leading his squad in an attack on a well-concealed Japanese Pillbox in an effort to take the Munda Airfield on New Georgia Island. He is buried there alongside many other boys from the 43rd Div in a military cemetery on New Georgia.

It is our fond hope that many citizens from Avon and other communities will come to recognize by these memorial plaques the service and sacrifice he gave to his country - Submitted by Past Post Commander Bill Newman