Portland, CT - At 1530 hours on the afternoon of Sunday November 15th, 2009, Portland Fire hosted it's third memorial Red, White & Blue Mass. The ceremony took place at the town's St. Mary's church at 51 Freestone Ave. Active & Veteran military personnel as well as members from local Police Fire & EMS departments united for a mass of remembrance & thanks for all that these individuals do & have done for those in their communities.
The event was organized in large part by Portland Fire member Richard Basso. Basso who is also a member of the local Knights of Columbus Freestone council #7 said that this mass was set to honor those who "preserve, protect & defend" local residents. That is exactly what it did. Reverend John Ashe & Pastor William Hodge celebrated the mass & even though St. Mary's practices the Catholic faith the ceremony was open to all people of any or no religion.
The ceremony began with Connecticut Firefighters Pipe & Drum Corps member Kenneth Walker leading the mixed division color guard east on Freestone Ave from the town library into the Church. The Military division of the Color Guard was made up of numerous members active & veteran from our United States Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force & Marine Corps. Following them was a joint emergency services color guard with members from the Portland local Police, Connecticut State Police, Portland Fire & a Paramedic from Middlesex Hospital. Following them was Portland Fire Departments color guard & proudly bringing up the rear was the color guard from Middletown Fire Department.
At one point during the mass, Richard Basso & three other members from local departments took part in the Roll Call of the deceased. Once this was completed "Taps" was played & shortly after "Amazing Grace" rang out on the bagpipes. At the end of the ceremony members from each of the color guard divisions gathered again & marched out of the church honorably as they came in to the sound of "America the Beautiful."
The event was organized in large part by Portland Fire member Richard Basso. Basso who is also a member of the local Knights of Columbus Freestone council #7 said that this mass was set to honor those who "preserve, protect & defend" local residents. That is exactly what it did. Reverend John Ashe & Pastor William Hodge celebrated the mass & even though St. Mary's practices the Catholic faith the ceremony was open to all people of any or no religion.
The ceremony began with Connecticut Firefighters Pipe & Drum Corps member Kenneth Walker leading the mixed division color guard east on Freestone Ave from the town library into the Church. The Military division of the Color Guard was made up of numerous members active & veteran from our United States Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force & Marine Corps. Following them was a joint emergency services color guard with members from the Portland local Police, Connecticut State Police, Portland Fire & a Paramedic from Middlesex Hospital. Following them was Portland Fire Departments color guard & proudly bringing up the rear was the color guard from Middletown Fire Department.
At one point during the mass, Richard Basso & three other members from local departments took part in the Roll Call of the deceased. Once this was completed "Taps" was played & shortly after "Amazing Grace" rang out on the bagpipes. At the end of the ceremony members from each of the color guard divisions gathered again & marched out of the church honorably as they came in to the sound of "America the Beautiful."
