Today brought a massive community gathering to Glastonbury for the official Wassuc Road Bridge Dedication. The town dedicated the bridge to honor Army Sergeant Steven DeLuzio, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2010. To read more about his life and service, visit the Connecticut Veterans Bulletin Gallery of Valor.
Eight of Steve’s battle brothers traveled to stand with the family to mark the occasion. Steven’s brother, Scott DeLuzio, also attended. Scott served just miles away when Steven died. Taliban fighters engaged Scott and his fellow soldiers in a firefight just minutes after Scott learned about his brother’s death.
For further background on regional military support efforts, veteran community initiatives, and resources, readers can reference reports from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Supporting our local heroes remains a cornerstone of our community outreach across the state. To explore more community stories, check out our archives on the Connecticut Veterans Bulletin.
Reflecting on the Wassuc Road Bridge Dedication
Community events and memorials play a vital role in keeping the memory of our fallen service members alive. Families, friends, and veterans gather to ensure that the ultimate sacrifice is never forgotten by future generations.
”First Tears” by Mark DeLuzio
For a long time, Diane and I feared that Steven died alone in that terrible place called Afghanistan. We later learned that his brothers—despite suffering injuries themselves—were right beside him. They determined to make sure Steve made it home to his family. It is easy to overlook the pain these heroes carry when they lose a brother in combat.
Reflecting on the legacy of our troops, this monument ensures that their memory endures.
I am not a veteran. I am a member of the Civil Air Patrol, the United States Air Force Auxiliary. But in 1991, personal loss brought me to a place I never left.
Over two decades later, that loss led me to the State Veterans Cemetery in Middletown, Connecticut, where I took on the coordination of Wreaths Across America — which grew into the largest and fastest growing veterans program in the state. I didn’t do it for recognition. I did it for them.
In 2016 I founded the Connecticut Veterans Bulletin. Not because I served, but because I believe those who did deserve to be honored, connected, and kept alive.
Twenty-two veterans die by suicide every day. I knew about that number before it became a hashtag. I knew it personally, long before anyone was talking about it.
This publication exists because that number is unacceptable. Because every veteran in Connecticut deserves to know someone gives a damn.
That someone is me.