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Veterans Day Celebration at the Hartford Public Library and the Connecticut State Library
HARTFORD, CT —Hartford Public Library, in partnership with the Connecticut State Library, will celebrate this Veterans Day with back-to-back programs honoring veterans. The Hartford Public Library is closed on November 11 in remembrance, and we will be using the two days prior to reflect on our veterans’ military service, achievements, and contributions.
On November 9th at 6 pm, the Hartford Public Library will present a special screening of The Borinqueneers, a 2007 documentary about the 65th Infantry Regiment. The 65th Infantry Regiment was the only all Puerto Rican regiment in the United States Army and its history spans from WWI to present-day. The regiment was nicknamed The Borinqueneers in reference to Puerto Rico’s original Taíno name, Borinquen.
A photo exhibit and a lecture by the film’s executive producer, Noemí Figueroa Soulet, will accompany the program. Soulet will address Hispanic military contributions and discuss the making of the documentary film. A question and answer session will follow the screening. HPL will be showing the film in the Center for Contemporary Culture as a part of both our Veterans Day and Hispanic Heritage Month programming.
On November 10, at 6:00 p.m., in partnership with the Ballet Theatre Company, the Hartford Public Library will present “Moving Toward Social Change”. This dance performance, choreographed by Artistic Director and U.S. Marine Iraq War Veteran Roman Baca, will incorporate recent veteran initiatives, artwork, and poetry. The anticipated audience will bridge the civilian/veteran divide by bringing together local civilians, advocates for art, advocates for social justice, veterans, art afficianados, and fans of poetry and dance. The program’s choreography is inspired by the veteran experience, the art of veteran artist Romare Bearden, and the poetry of Hartford’s Lynn Hoffman. A panel discussion will follow the performance, featuring Dierdra Harris Kelley (Co-Director of the Romare Bearden Foundation), Lynn Hoffman (poet and mother of a U.S. Marine Afghanistan War Veteran), and Aaron Thao (dancer and son of Hmong refugees). The performance will take place in the Center for Contemporary Culture at Hartford Public Library and light refreshments will be provided.
“This Veterans Day, together with the Connecticut State Library, we wanted to emphasize the enduring legacy of our servicemen and women,” said Hartford Public Library’s chief Executive Officer Matt Poland. “Their contributions do not stop at the end of their military careers. In addition to our ongoing freedom and safety, our veterans offer us a crucial perspective on our own culture—one that we should consider on all days, but particularly Veterans Day.” Both programs presented in honor of our veterans are free and open to the public