November 16 – Hello
Uncasville – The 10th annual Vets Rock event, featuring programs aimed at improving the lives and opportunities for veterans and active duty military personnel, took place Saturday afternoon at Mohegan Sun.
With 1,000 guests attending throughout the day, the event sought to connect veterans with fellow service members, service organizations, job opportunities and support resources.
The day began with an opening ceremony hosted by WTNH Channel 8 Chief Meteorologist Gil Simmons. The Tribal Color Guard participated in the ceremony, several speakers from Mohegan Sun’s executive team addressed the crowd, and the Griswold High School choir sang a rendition of Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA.”
“We are very pleased to have been able to do so much in the last ten years, and we look forward to another ten years,” said Jeff Hamilton, president and general manager of Mohegan Sun.
All Paws on Deck, a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding homes for sheltered dogs, hosted an adoption event at the exhibit. Todd Stiles, 39, a retired Army veteran from Oakdale, adopted Ascher, an energetic, five-month-old Great Dane.
Stiles, who is attending Vets Rock for the second year in a row, says what drew him back was the sense of community and camaraderie he experiences with other veterans.
“It’s a different kind of community that most aren’t used to. It’s a bunch of crazy guys and girls who love each other unconditionally. It’s amazing,” Stiles said. “It’s nice to know you have a network here.”
In the main event space, Clinton band Bluewater Boys played upbeat, upbeat sounds as veterans interacted and met with exhibitors and fellow attendees. Several organizations, including the Office of Senator Richard Blumenthal, Everlasting Veteran, LLC and the American Legion Department of Connecticut, ensured veterans knew support resources were available.
Sandra Spedaliere, a retired Navy dental technician who served for 20 years, spent her 10th year at the event promoting the American Legion Department of Connecticut.
Spedaliere, the 5th District commander, said the event is an opportunity to raise awareness for the organization. She hopes more women will join the American Legion in the coming years.
“A lot of times people think it’s just a men’s organization. But the American Legion is just as much a women’s organization as it is a men’s organization,” she said.
Hamilton is confident that Mohegan Sun’s relationship with veterans will only grow stronger over the years. Looking back on a decade of the Vets Rock event, he says the group is a key pillar of the company’s commitment to the community.
“One of our commitments within our organization, our culture, is to support the community we live and work for, and veterans are an important aspect of that,” he said.
t.wright@theday.com
