NAUGATUCK — On Sunday, communities across the country paused to honor Veterans Day.
The borough commemorated the day with its annual parade up Church Street to the Town Green for a ceremony highlighted by a keynote address given by borough resident Maj. Scott Meyer, U.S. Army Reserve, Logistics Corp.
“Scott has over 24 years of service to our nation,” said Chairman of Naugatuck Veteran Council John Debisschop as he introduced Meyer. “Scott has, on more than one occasion in the modern war on terror, gone overseas to Iraq and Afghanistan both to serve our nation.”
Meyer serves as a logistics officer with a specialty in railroad operations, Debisschop explained. Debisschop told the audience that Meyer was over in Iraq the day his daughter, Emily, was born.
“So he missed the birth of Emily and the beginning of her life in order to serve our nation and protect us,” Debisschop said.
Meyer began his speech by thanking all of the veterans.
“Today the nation has a simple, heartfelt message to all veterans: it’s thank you. Thank you for your unwavering service in peacetime and war,” Meyer said
Meyer told the audience that America owes its freedom to the selfless actions of the American servicemen and women around the world.
“Across this great nation and throughout the world, Americans will pause on this Sunday to honor our brave fighting men and women who, for more than 236 years, have underwritten our freedom by their duty, honor, and selfless service,” Meyer said. “We, the living, are indeed the beneficiaries of those who have made these tremendous sacrifices for the advancement and surety of our liberty and America.”
Meyer said that servicemen do not join the military in search of fortune or fame.
“It was merely simple love of America and the freedoms we all cherish so much why we served,” Meyer said.
Meyer also thanked all of the families of military men and women around the country.
“Families are the unsung heroes, too,” Meyer said. “While we are away, they are home alone, wondering what’s happening to those of us who are deployed. They’re taking care of the day to day business that used to be handled by two people.”
He told the audience how he not only missed the birth of his daughter, but nearly the first year of her life as well.
“I missed basically the first 11 months of her life when she was born. I couldn’t come home,” Meyer said.
As Meyer concluded his address, he called on everyone to remember and honor all of the veterans.
“Remember, they have sacrificed for you and I, so the least we can do for them is to remember their accomplishments and never let them fade, because what they have done is help us make this the best country on earth. Though it may not be perfect, it is the best,” Meyer said.
