Annual Rhode Island’s Veterans Day Ceremony in Bristol

Bristol – Friday’s Veteran’s Day ceremony at the Veteran Home in Bristol started with Welcome remarks from B.G. Rick Baccus, USA (Ret), Administrator of RI Veterans Home.
The Posting of Colors was the U.S. Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team, Bristol and the National Anthem was performed by the Mt. Hope High School Band.
The honored guests were Governor Gina Raimondo, Senator Jack Reed, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Congressman Jim Langevin and Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea as well as Bristol Town Officials, SGM (R) Joseph Deniz, President, Bristol Veterans Council and Kasim Yarn, Director, Office of Veterans Affairs.

The keynote speaker of the event was Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Rene A. Remillad, U.S. Army and the Presentation of Colors was Bristol Train of Artillery.

The governor and veterans laid the wreath while the Bristol Train of Artillery did the rifle salute; “TAPS” performed by Steven Skuba, and the benediction by chaplain of Bristol Veterans Council.

Governor Raimondo made this statement, “We must keep working each day to fulfill our sacred responsibility to our veterans and their families. I am proud to honor them this Veterans Day.”

“I’d also like to thank Rhode Island voters for overwhelmingly approving Question 3 at the polls this week. This will allow us to finish the state-of-the-art veterans home. When it’s complete, we’ll have a veterans home worthy of their service.”

The ballot Question 3 that finances construction of the Rhode Island Veterans Home was approved overwhelmingly. The bond passed with 83% of voters supporting it. The funds will be used to complete construction that is already underway and for future maintenance. The new Veterans Home is to open next fall and it will have 208 beds, with several set aside for homeless veterans.