Dozens of Youth to Assist in Honoring Veterans Laid to Rest at City Cemetery with Flag Placing Monday
By Jeff Toquinto on November 07, 2025
Honoring past and present members of the U.S. military, Veterans Day will be observed Tuesday, Nov. 11 and thanks to some local young athletes, soldiers laid to rest at Bridgeport Cemetery will be paid tribute on this national observance.
“We will be putting out approximately 1,500 flags," said Tricia Bombardiere, Bridgeport Cemetery Manager. "We started with Bridgeport youth 
football kids nine years ago and that has grown over the years. We have the peewee, midget divisions along with cheerleaders, parents, coaches, honor society students and anyone that just wants to help".
football kids nine years ago and that has grown over the years. We have the peewee, midget divisions along with cheerleaders, parents, coaches, honor society students and anyone that just wants to help".
Those participating will meet at the cemetery office around 3:45 p.m. The flags will be placed around 4 p.m. Monday, November 10.
The sea of red, white and blue will look beautiful across the cemetery grounds, but the project goes deeper than meets the eye.
“I believe this is important for the community, including kids, to volunteer their time to honor our veterans who continue to sacrifice for us and their willingness to serve,” Bombardiere said.
The same flags will be used which are placed on military grave sights on Memorial Day. The local Boy Scouts provide that service annually, but the flags have not – at least in recent years – been placed for Veterans Day, Bombardiere said.
“I want to change that. We need to honor and recognize our veterans on Veterans Day as well,” Bombardiere said. “I’m excited that the little ones will be involved so they know what Veterans Day is about. I’m sure a lot of them think that it’s just a day off from school.”
Observed annually on Nov. 11, Veterans Day honors those who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. The observance coincides with Armistice Day and Remembrance Day. Celebrated in other countries, those observances mark the anniversary of the end of World War I, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. The U.S. used to observe Armistice Day, but in 1954 renamed the holiday Veterans Day.
Memorial Day honors those who died while in military service and Armed Forces Day honors those currently serving in the military.
Bombardiere said soldiers from most wars - from the Civil War forward - are buried at Bridgeport Cemetery.
Editor's Note: Photos used with this are by Joe LaRocca.
