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Torrington's Southwest School honors late veteran Mastrocola

The Register Citizen - 5/29/2021

May 29—TORRINGTON — While Memorial Day isn't until Monday, it was a hometown event in Torrington Friday morning, when Southwest School honored longtime resident John "Uncle John" Mastrocola, a WWII Navy veteran, on the school's front lawn.

The assembly slowed traffic on Litchfield Street as drivers paused to see the the students dressed in red, white and blue, many holding signs, lined up in two groups. Principal Mary Ann Buchanan, dressed in a bright red blouse, said this year's program was dedicated to Mastrocola, known to all at the school as Uncle John. Mastrocola, 95, died April 18.

He was known for sitting on a city street corner, wherever he was welcome, and waving the American flag at passing traffic, drawing waves, honks and cheers. One of his favorite spots was in front of the Torrington Police Department, which has a busy intersection. He was quoted as saying that he did it "for my buddies."

(See a report from FOX 61 news with video of Matrocola here.)

A patriotically decorated folding chair with a photograph on the seat sat near the flagpole, where the ceremony began with members of Torrington High School ROTC including Jesse Barrera, Aydan Reilly, Mary Nelson, Jadyn Morales and Kaleb Kesl, raised the American flag and marched past the assembly. Torrington High School senior Ashton Tyler played taps on his trumpet. The children sang "You're a Grand Old Flag" and lined up signs honoring the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Marines.

When the ROTC arrived, some of the children got excited. "They're in uniforms," said a little boy in a blue T-shirt. They were even more excited when the Torrington Fire Department rolled in with two engines to join the assembled parents and neighbors on the sidewalk.

On the lawn, a mannequin in a Navy sailor's uniform had Mastrocola's original name tag, which he had given the school to use.

Mayor Elinor Carbone thanked the school for remembering Mastrocola. "We all miss him," she said. "His final days were spent at the intersection of Litchfield and High streets, to honor, respect and thank his fellow veterans. We need to honor them every day."

Southwest School's former principal, Judy Thebe, is Mastrocola's niece and was a guest at the program. "Uncle John was the guardian of the school's grounds," she said, recalling that he would report any unusual activity or uninvited guests at the school. And he always made sure the school's flag was flying.

"When Dr. Buchanan became principal of Southwest, Uncle John loved and respected her," Thebe said. "He loved the school, he loved Torrington, and he loved the United States. His motto was 'never surrender.'"

A plaque was unveiled during the program with his name and motto, placed on a stone in front of a Viburnum bush planted in Mastrocola's honor. "It has white, fragrant balls of flowers in the spring, and the foliage turns red in the fall — two of the three colors of the American flag," Buchanan said.

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(c)2021 The Register Citizen, Torrington, Conn.

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