The Berlin
Cit itiz ize en
Volume 15, Number 25
Berlin’s Only Hometown Newspaper
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Graduation: excitement, reflection for 2011 class Photos by Matt Leidemer
By Melissa Chicker Special to The Citizen
Getting a hug from graduate Kevin Shea, at center, are graduates Blayne Michalski, left, and Jaclyn Rubin. More photos inside.
Fathers at Berlin High School’s graduation ceremony received a special present on Father’s Day — watching their sons and daughters take that big step into independence and out into the world. The June 19 ceremony, at Central Connecticut State University’s Welte Hall, brought out family and friends of the graduates to celebrate this occasion. “I’m mostly excited to graduate. I never thought it would get here and now reality has hit,” said Shannon Je-
Were you spotted? See your photo at www.berlincitizen.com Graduation 2011
you in life.” Morrison, graduated with honors and also served as class secretary. He will attend Stonehill College in Massachusetts where he plans to
See Graduation, page 8
drzejczyk, who will attend Central in the fall for Division 1 swimming. Annie Scionti is graduated with honors and will attend
Bentley College in Massachusetts in the fall. “I feel like it’s not happening, but it is. It has been an emotional morning,” said Scionti, who
is majoring in accounting and entrepreneurship. During the ceremony, speakers included class President Rebecca Calafiore, who took a moment to recognize fathers in the audience and congratulated the Class of 201l. “We worked long and hard and persevered through many obstacles to get here — and we did,” she said. In his speech, to his 247 classmates, class Salutatorian Ryan Morrison described graduation and high school as a basketball game. “We will make that slam dunk, time will run out, and we will clock out of high school,” he said. “Stay persistent and have a team that supports
Class President Rebecca Calafiore addresses the audience during the June 19 graduation ceremony.
Memorial honors fallen soldier soon after dedication By Melissa Chicker Special to The Citizen
The veterans’ dedication of their new memorial at Veterans Park on June 14 went off without a hitch, despite the rain. A large crowd of Berlin residents came out to support and watch the flag dedication. Father Mike of St. Paul Church led the ceremony with an opening prayer. Charles Colaresi of the Berlin Veterans Commission was one of the speakers at the ceremony. “This will be viewed as a premiere monument for the state where veterans can come and feel good about themselves. It feels good that we did that,” he said. Each of the six flags raised represented a different branch of the armed forces including Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps., and Coast Guard, with the American flag raised first. Each flag was hoisted by
Citizen photo by Marsha Pomponio
American Legion Post 68 Commander Vincent Trigila carries the flag during the June 14 dedication ceremony.
the town’s oldest veterans of those branches. Just a few short hours after the
dedication, flags were lowered to half-mast to honor the sacrifice of another soldier. Army Pfc. Eric
Soufrine, of Woodbridge, was killed June 14 in the line of duty in Afghanistan. McGee Middle School band and chorus lead in the singing of the Star Spangled Banner after the flags were hoisted. Guest speakers at the ceremony included Mayor Adam Salina and Linda Schwartz, commissioner of the state’s Department of Veterans Affairs. “I salute all of you today and the people that organized this. You being here is what makes us strong,” Schwartz said. The Veterans Committee also
See Flag, page 6