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1981 Hunger Strike Commemoration in CT. On August 20, 2010, the 29th anniversary of the ending 1981 hunger strike, the Waterbury Ct. AOH (Freedom for All Ireland Committee) held a commemoration at Bobby Sands Circle in Hartford, CT. To mark that historic occasion. The event was arranged by Joseph Flaherty of Waterbury AOH. The commemoration began with the wreath laying ceremony. Two wreathes were laid at the foot of the Hunger Striker’s monument by the Waterbury unit of the AOH and by representatives of Cumann Na Saoirse to signify the sacrifices made by Irish Hunger strikers and their families. The Star Spangled Banner was sung by, Raymond P.Green of the Waterbury unit of the AOH in English, and Irish. Following the national anthem was the reading of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic by Raymond P Green in Irish, and Emmett Mc Sweeney in English, both representatives of the Waterbury unit of the AOH. Joseph Flaherty had the honor of reading out the names, and duration of the ten hunger strikers that died on the 1981 Hunger Strike: The names of Michael Gaughan (1974) and Frank Stagg (1976) that made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of the Irish Republic were also added to the list. Following the, ‘Reading of the Ten,’ was an emotional account by Susan Kramer who read an account of, ‘A Wife of an Irish Republican Prisoner Today. Susan’s reading shed light on the everyday realities that the families of Irish Republican POW’s endure. Following the commemoration in Hartford CT. was a fundraiser for the Irish Republican POW’s held today in British controlled dungeons in Ireland and England. The fundraiser was sponsored by the Waterbury AOH (Freedom for all Ireland Committee) The event which was held at the Local Public House, in Waterbury CT. was a huge success. Proceeds from the event will go to Cabhair towards the support of today’s families of Irish Republican POW’s. A huge thank you goes out to all who were involved in promoting this event, and a video has been produced by Cumann Na Saoirse Naisiunta for all who could not attend.
COMMEMORATION PHOTOS
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