[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 93 (Monday, June 11, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1244]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE SERVICE OF ARTHUR C. NERIANI

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER S. MURPHY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 7, 2007

  Mr. MURPHY of Connecticut. Madam Speaker, as we celebrate the 63rd 
anniversary of the D-Day invasion, I rise today to honor the service 
and valor of all veterans, and especially the contributions of Arthur 
Neriani, who served bravely in World War II.
  The son of two Italian immigrants, Arthur Neriani grew up in Avon, 
CT, when Avon was still considered a farm town. As a young man, Art 
spent much of his time with a group of 15 boys from the same 
neighborhood. Organized by Gildo Consolini, the boys played softball on 
a local team called the Avon Tigers. Bonded through friendship and love 
of country, 14 of these young men went on to serve their country during 
World War II.
  At the age of 21, Art's name was at the top of the list at the Draft 
Board 2B in Unionville. As the first from the Farmington Valley to be 
drafted, Art's unique status was covered in the Hartford Courant. In 
1940, Art joined the National Guard, Company M, 169th Regiment, 43rd 
Division in New Britain. In 1941, the division was federalized and sent 
to train in Camp Blanding in Starke, FL. After his year of service was 
almost complete on December 7, 1941, it was soon made clear he was not 
going home. Soon after Pearl Harbor, all of the soldiers at Camp 
Blanding were asked to sign up for Officer Candidate School. It was not 
Corporal Neriani, but rather a friend, who signed Art's name in for 
consideration. Of the 26 candidates who stepped forward, only 2 were 
accepted--one of which was Art Neriani. After completion of candidate 
school, Art arrived on the beaches of Normandy as the 2nd Lieutenant of 
the 8th Infantry Division on July 4, 1944, referred to as D plus 28 (28 
days after D-Day).
  In 1945, after the gruesome battle in Huertgen Forest, Germany, 
Officer Neriani received a battlefield promotion from 2nd Lieutenant to 
1st Lieutenant. When he was awarded the Bronze Star medal for his 
leadership and courage in battle he refused it. He felt he had not 
earned the decoration. To him, this type of honor and recognition was 
better served in honoring the other men--the ones who paid the greatest 
sacrifice with their lives.
  1st Lt. Neriani battled through Europe, liberated German and Polish 
political prisoners from Nazi concentration camps, and reached the end 
of the war when meeting with Russian allies in May 1945. Of the 14 
servicemen from Avon that were sent to war, all but one returned home--
Gildo Consolini. It is in honor of him that the Avon's Veterans of 
Foreign War Post is named.
  A man of honor and courage, Captain Neriani saw many battles, lost 
friends and brothers, and was one of many to bring freedom to Europe. 
We owe our veterans, those here and now gone, this country's greatest 
debt of gratitude. I call on my colleagues to join me in paying tribute 
to men like Art Neriani--to the dedicated men and women in our military 
our proudly serve this Nation and protect our freedom.

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