Real Men Wear Pink Patriots all-pro receiver Randy Moss covered his great pair of hands with some pink gloves in support of breast cancer awareness at the game on October 4th.
by Vito J. Leo
Over the years, the National Football League (NFL) evolved from a rough and tumble, beer-drinking, for-men-only image, to one that is more family oriented, embracing women as ardent fans and sportscasters.
And never was that more evident than during games played on the first Sunday of October – the month which for the past 25 years is traditionally reserved as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
On October 4th, the New England Patriots kicked off a month-long campaign to raise public awareness concerning breast cancer. Other NFL are participating, each franchise using different approaches all with the same goal: to raise awareness and money to help in the national effort to beat breast cancer.
“Throughout the league, games are featuring players, coaches and referees wearing pink game apparel, as well as on-field pink ribbon stencils, special K-balls and pink coins,” said a Patriots spokesperson.
In addition to players wearing pink accessories and the cheerleaders wearing pretty pink outfits, the team festooned Gillette Stadium with colorful pink, including the padding on the goal posts, and fans could purchase pink towels to wave during the game, with proceeds going to breast cancer research.
Jill Fallon, Salem, nurse manager, Cancer Center, Lawrence & Memorial Hospital, New London, was first diagnosed with breast cancer 10 years ago.
“It’s awesome that they’re so aware of this,” said the decade-long survivor. “I love the fact that they can reach a lot of men and younger people who watch the games on TV might and who may not be aware of the need for annual mammograms,” she said.
But Jill offered a thought that perhaps people shouldn’t just turn off the awareness button come November 1 after the month-long spotlight on breast cancer during October.
“I wish there was similar awareness for other diseases as well,” she said. “So many people have other diseases [which aren’t fortunate enough to] get such national support.”
Tami Chapman, Griswold, is a registered nurse at L&M, and is involved with various support groups at the hospital.
She said she was pleased while watching an NFL game earlier this month and seeing the players wearing various pink accessories.
“I’m encouraged that they’re making an effort to make people more aware of this but people should realize that breast cancer is just one of many forms of cancer, although it seems to get more exposure than most of the others,” Tami said. “Everybody should realize there’s a ribbon color for every type of cancer, not just pink for breast cancer. Maybe the NFL could give some exposure to some other types of the disease during future months,” she said.
The NFL website also has specially designed pink paraphernalia for sale with a portion of the proceeds donated to support the fight against breast cancer. Visit www.nflshop.com and click on the breast cancer awareness icon.
The league has labeled its campaign “A Crucial Catch,” using the play on words to underscore the fact that catching symptoms of this disease early on is crucial in effecting good outcomes.
One way people can support the effort to raise research funding – without having to donate any money – is simply by visiting the website www.thebreastcancersite.com and clicking on the appropriate box. Sponsors donate funds for each click made, one per computer per day.
The NFL sends this message to both its male and female fans: “If you’re a woman who is 40 or older, be sure to get a mammogram every year. Men, don’t forget to encourage the important women in your life to get yearly mammograms, too.”
It’s important to realize that men are also susceptible to this disease, accounting for about one percent of all cases nationwide.
(l-r) Members of the Frederick J. Sullivan VFW Post 2212 Rich Rushford, Post Adjutant, Gail Rushford, president, Ladies Auxiliary, Jim Beebe, president, Men’s Auxiliary, George Jarvis, Post Trustee, and Dennis Baptiste, Post Senior Vice Commander, stand by James L. Greene, Jr.’s picture.
Many men sacrificed their lives when the country was locked in combat in Vietnam. Of those thousands of valiant Vietnam victims, only one came from the Taftville section of Norwich, namely, James L. Greene Jr., affectionately known as “Jimmy.”
Now, some four decades after the close of that tumultuous chapter in U.S. history, young Jimmy is being honored by members of the Taftville VFW, who named the club’s dinning hall after their native son.
“They did a great job with this,” said Jimmy’s brother, Randy Greene, a few days after attending a touching dedication ceremony at the club in late September.
“It was a great feeling,” said the Norwich resident, referring to the first time he saw the super sized photo of his brother showcased on an easel, the focus of the large room. “I’m very proud of Jimmy; he deserved this.” He said his parents, James Sr. and Rita DeRosier, both deceased, would also be proud to see their son remembered by folks in their hometown.
In addition to the larger-than-life portrait of Jimmy, members of the Frederick J. Sullivan Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2212 also commissioned a plaque with the fallen Marine’s name on it.
“The way they set it all up, it looks real nice. I’m glad they decided to do this for Jimmy,” said Jimmy’s boyhood friend and fellow Marine, Rich Rushford, Post Adjutant. Rich is one of the 81 active members of the Taftville post which also features vibrant auxiliaries for both men and women.
The auxiliaries often hold dinners in the club’s events hall – now the “Greene Room.” The room is a good draw for weddings and birthdays, according to Dennis Baptiste, the post’s senior vice commander who coordinated the eight-month effort to name the hall for Jimmy.
“Everybody’s kind of giving me credit for this [idea] but I think it was a bunch of us, sitting around one night, when we came up with it,” Dennis said.
He said one idea tossed out that night was to rename the club in honor of Jimmy since no one seemed to know who Frederick J. Sullivan was.
“But then we researched who he was and found out that Frederick was a World War I veteran who died in 1928. We decided it wouldn’t be a good idea to change the name of the club,” Dennis said. “So then we decided to name the hall after Jimmy,” he said.
Fan favorite Brett Pill signs autographs before the game for (l-r) Troy Sullivan, Montville and Alex Huber, Mystic.
story & photo
by Vito J. Leo
For a couple of longtime season-ticket holders, the excitement surrounding the Norwich pro baseball team’s first playoff appearance in seven years was only tempered by a late-summer chill that descended on Dodd Stadium on September 9.
“If the weather is good, we’ll be here for every playoff game,” said Rose City resident Linda Jackson as she and her husband, Harry, cheered on the Connecticut Defenders as the Norwich nine easily handled the New Britain Rock Cats, 6-2, in the Eastern League playoff opener.
“We’ve been looking forward to this for years,” said Linda, a season-ticket holder for a decade. “These guys have had a great year and they’ve got one heckuva manager,” she said, referring to Defender-in-Chief Steve Decker.
Steve chose strikeout artist Ben Snyder to start this pivotal game with New Britain ace Deolis Guerra toeing the mound for the Rock Cats.
Both starting pitchers had rather shaky first innings, but Steve recovered far more quickly than did the Rock Cats’ hurler. The Norwich starter’s first three pitches of the game were balls but he then settled down and proceeded to tame the Cats, holding them scoreless until the ninth.
Deolis also settled down after a rocky first inning, but not before the Defenders had put a four-spot on the board, keyed by D.H. Martinez-Esteve’s three-run homer.
The Defenders finished atop the Northern Division with an 83-59 record this season.
(l-r) Sir Devon (Scott Rodlin) and Ian Ihloff, 7, Plainfield get acquainted at the Renaissance Festival.
story & photo
by Vito J. Leo
Most of those attending the town’s second annual Renaissance Festival in Jewett City on Aug. 15 were there to partake of a fun summer afternoon. But some people were at Veterans Memorial Park selling clothing styled after the fashions of a bygone millennium while others were wearing colorful garb straight from the days of knights and castles.
The costumes which drew the most attention were those worn by a traveling troupe of thespians mounted on horseback, re-creating jousting matches and sword fights from days of olde.
Keith Phillips, Long Island, dances at the annual Wigwam Festival held at Fort Shantok, August 15.
story & photo
by Vito J. Leo
Hundreds of Native Americans from CT and neighboring states converged at Fort Shantok on August 15 to once again display the dynamic ethnic dances created by their ancestors centuries ago. The popular celebration was started years ago by local Mohegans to bring together people of different Tribes under one tent for a weekend of social and cultural exchange.
“We really enjoy coming here each year. We began coming years ago when they first started it and were holding it at St. Bernard’s,” said Don Moose, Preston. “I especially like the colorful costumes they wear and I really enjoy the children’s dances,” said Don’s wife, Judy.
Among many men, women and children displaying their attractive native garb, while dancing around a campfire located in the center of the tent, was Amanda Russell, Uncasville.
Amanda, 21, a dancer since age 12, said she enjoys both the opportunity to display her natural abilities, and a chance to share some time of camaraderie with other Native Americans who have similar interests.
Albert Sargent, Ledyard, said, he attends a half dozen or so similar events each year held in the tri-state area. Wearing a coyote headdress, Albert struts his stuff under the large white tent set up at Fort Shantok, displaying the skills he learned as a child. His relatives took him to dance festivals throughout the area where they could collectively share their creative and rich heritage.
