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Volume 23, Number 19
Thursday, May 13, 2021
Cicadas not expected to pose problems By Joy VanderLek Special to the Record-Journal
The Woody Williams Foundation is responsible for establishing 76 Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments across the United States. Another 74 monuments are underway.
Gold Star Families Monument set to break ground in Berlin The Berlin Veterans Commission will host a groundbreaking ceremony for the Connecticut Gold Star Families Memorial Monument at Veterans Memorial Park on Saturday, May 22 at 11:30 a.m.
ty’ and service above self as he ‘enabled his company to reach its objective.’
The monument will honor Gold Star Families and the legacy of their loved ones who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the United States military.
“Mr. Williams’ actions, commitment to his fellow service members, and heroism were recognized on October 5, 1945, when he received the Congressional Medal of Honor from President Truman at the White House. Mr. Williams is the sole surviving Marine from WWII, to wear the Medal of Honor.”
The Berlin Veterans Commission is collaborating with the Woody Williams Foundation to build this Gold Star Families Memorial Monument. The foundation’s website states, “Hershel ‘Woody’ Williams was born on a dairy farm in 1923 in Quiet Dell, West Virginia. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served in the Battle of Iwo Jima with the 21st Marines, 3d Marine Division. During the battle, Mr. Williams displayed ‘valiant devotion to du-
The website states that the activities of the Woody Williams Foundation “allow Mr. Williams to continue his devotion and commitment to those who have served and the Gold Star families who have lost Loved Ones to that service above self. To date, Woody and his foundation are responsible for establishing 76 Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments across the United States with more than 74 additional monuments underway in 50 states.”
A press release from the Berlin Veterans Commission states “the black granite monument features two sides. One side bears the words: Gold Star Families Memorial Monument, a tribute to Gold Star Families and Relatives who have sacrificed a Loved One for our Freedom. The other side tells a story through the four granite panels: Homeland, Family, Patriot, and Sacrifice. The scenes on each panel reflect Connecticut’s Gold Star Families and their fallen heroes. At the center See Monument, A21
you hear during the heat of the summer. They make the really high-pitched There will be a new cycle trilling, buzzing that you of cicadas emerging this hear during the day,” year, but despite some Simpson said. These analarmist rumors of a large- nual cicadas are, 99% of scale infestation and dev- the time, the kind of ciastation, there’s really cadas Connecticut resinothing to worry dents see or hear. about, according to one In the order Hemiptera, local expert. periodical cicadas (magiThe non annual cicadas, cicada), there are three also known as the periodi- species of the 17-year cicals, belong to the species cada (decim, cassini and magicicada, the 17-year decula). The three are cicada. These are the ones synchronized in their that will be coming out emergence. They come this year in the East. out in the millions, flying, These cicadas are the type and singing. with specifically separated “The cicadas come out in broods of 13 or 17 years. such huge numbers that Entomologist Ray Simppredators are overson, with the Yalewhelmed. The army of Peabody Museum of Nat- predators out there are ural History in New taken by surprise,” said Haven, says there won’t Simpson. “They (predabe a grand-scale emertors) can’t eat them all.” gence of these arthropods The staggered emergence appearing in area towns. of the 13 and 17- year-cyEven in areas where cicles is a natural strategy to cadas are expected in avoid competition withlarge numbers, the drain the various species. matic headlines are simply overkill, he said. That abundance of ci“People in Connecticut will be aware of the Dog Day cicadas, the ones
A Brood X cicada.
cadas is a bonanza for the ecosystem.
See Cicadas, A16
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