March 29, 2024

City Infused with American Flags - Donors Thanked

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In May of 2014, then city councilwoman-at-Large, Tracy Capobianco wanted to see the annual Memorial Day parade route festooned with American flags. Capobianco was inspired by a family trip through the town of Agawam, Massachusetts. "Their main street is lined with American flags on the poles, it looks so fabulous. I always thought that that would look terrific in EP," she recalled in a 2014 interview. Capobianco decided to do something quick. "At one of the Riverside Renaissance movement meetings, we had discussed sprucing up the square. I shared my idea of flags with them in hopes we could put them in Riverside Square." Well it seems that her patriotic notion has moved many locals. American flags began popping up all over Riverside and that tradition continues today.

While the flag program is intended to coincide with the annual Memorial Day parade held every year in Riverside, the movement has caught on throughout the city. American flags are on many local homes and the East Providence Veteran's Advisory Committee has helped with flag projects and the Veterans Flag memorial on Vets Parkway.

Although Capobianco is quick to credit many like Jim Miller and many others with helping with this project, she is truly the catalyst behind the movement. "I'm glad the flag project continues," said the now former councilwoman-at-large.

"It is with great pride that the East Providence Veterans Advisory Committee share with you the generous donations given by businesses and residents in honor of our veterans. These wonderful people in our community paid for one or more flags that have been hung in Riverside along the Memorial Day Parade," the EP Vets Committee stated. "We sincerely want to thank the following businesses and residents for their generosity:"

Steve Lee, in Honor of Arthur B. Lee, ARMY; Allen & Linda Winter, in Honor of Ernest Mascio, ARMY; The Belasco Family, in Honor of Gilbert Belasco, ARMY; Jessica Beauchaine, in Honor of George Beauchaine, ARMY; Rick Farnsworth, in Honor of Lester Farnsworth, ARMY; The Hurley Family, in Honor of Joseph Hurley, ARMY; The Laurino Family, in Honor of Larry Laurino, ARMY; Slepkow, Slepkow & Associates, in Honor of John “Jack” Kelly, ARMY; Slepkow, Slepkow & Associates, in Honor of R. Michael Cribari, ARMY.

Phil Tirrell, in Honor of Richard Tirrell, ARMY; Kathleen Santos, in Honor of Ed Santos, ARMY; Jim & Joan Miller, in Honor of Michael Hanrahan, ARMY; Sharon Capobianco, in Honor of Lawrence LaCroix, ARMY; Richard Palumbo, in Honor of Paul Ciotti, ARMY
Jim Briden, in Honor of E.F. Briden, ARMY; Fred’s Service Center & Manny Vinhateiro Jr., in Honor of Manuel Vinhateiro Sr., ARMY; Manny Jr.& Stephanie Vinhateiro, in Honor of Manuel Vinhateiro Sr., ARMY; Kathleen Santos, in Honor of Bill Clark, MARINES; Linda Lawson, in Honor of Richard Lawson, MARINES.

Joe Rocha and Family, in Honor of Joe Rocha, MARINES; The Laurino Family, in Honor of Richard Laurino, MARINES; The Laurino Family, in Honor of Ron Laurino, MARINES; The Laurino Family, in Honor of Raymond Laurino, MARINES; Gregg Amore, in Honor of John M. Amore, NAVY; Rose Pereira & Luci Stoddard, in Honor of Harry J. Amaral Sr., NAVY; Rose Pereira & Luci Stoddard, in Honor of The Amaral Brothers, NAVY; Joe Rocha, in Honor of Silvino “Rocky” Rocha, NAVY; David Kent, in Honor of Jospeh F. Crowell, NAVY; Maria D. Moukhtarian, in Honor of Joseph F. Crowell, NAVY; Jim & Joan Miller, in Honor of John Miller, NAVY'

Stephanie & Manny Vinhateiro Jr. , in Honor of James T. Kanelos, NAVY; The Barnes Family, in Honor of Anna Barnes, AIR FORCE; Steve Sheridan, in Honor of those who gave their lives serving the U.S. COAST GUARD; Rose Pereira & Luci Stoddard, in Honor of Harry J. Amaral Jr., U.S. COAST GUARD; Reverend Kenneth & Ellen Ordway, in Honor of Chester Aldrich
Orchard View Manor, in Honor of all their veteran residents; Kevin Andre, in Honor of all veterans; Christopher & Natalia Scarpetti, in Honor of all veterans; Riverside Renaissance Movement, in Honor of all veterans; EP Democratic City Committee, in Honor of all veteran members; Suez, in Honor of all veterans; East Providence ELKS Riders r/c#2337, in Honor of our absent members.

"I am so proud of our efforts in East Providence to honor our veterans and show our patriotism in general," said resident Tracy Capobianco. Capobianco initiated an effort to infuse the city with American flags throughout the Memorial Day parade route and elsewhere in the city. "We honor these veterans not only with the flags, the parade and holidays, we honor them each day of our lives," Jim Miller, Chairman, EP Veteran's Advisory Committee (VAC).

Rick Lawson, Veterans Committee member, says that "the VAC is happy to team up with Tracy Capobianco this year to carry on the tradition she started. The American Flag is a symbol of freedom throughout the world and proudly shows the flag in such an amazing display like this is a wonderful way to honor all Veterans who served to protect the freedoms that the flag represents.” The VAC is grateful for the community team effort to continue the flag project and the generous donation from SUEZ ($5,000), secured by City manager Tim Chapman, shows their commitment to our community.

The Veterans Advisory Committee is a 6 member committee tasked to honor and advocate for all Veterans. The committee is planning a celebration for Memorial Day as well as continuing to provide information targeted to Veteran affairs to ensure the needs of Veterans are met. The committee members are; Jim Miller Chairman, Tony Abatecola, Vice Chairman, Rick Lawson Treasurer, Karen Rebello Secretary, Luci Stoddard and Rose Pereira.

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