Connecticut
Connecticut mom searching for lost necklace that contains son’s ashes
A mother in Connecticut is launching a desperate search for a necklace containing her son’s ashes which she lost while on a beach walk Wednesday.
Leslie Soyland realized that her most prized possession was no longer around her neck after returning home from a stroll at her local Calf Pasture Beach, in Norwalk.
Soyland had worn the necklace for ten years — receiving it at the wake of her son, Johnny, who died at age 27 in a car crash on Oct. 3, 2014, according to Connecticut News 12.
“It’s monetarily not worth much, but sentimentally, it’s everything,” Soyland told News 12.
The jewelry features a small teardrop charm with a heart inside on a 30-inch chain and contains some of her departed son’s cremated remains.
“I just feel like I lost part of – sounds funny but — part of me, you know? And I’m sure there are a lot of people out there that don’t understand it, and probably think it’s strange, but it’s what I had all the time, and it just made me feel close to him, because we were very close,” Soyland told Eyewitness News.
She believes it slipped off her neck when she took a sweatshirt off during her walk on the beach.
The bereft mother says that she traced the steps of her usual 3-mile walk along the coast multiple times in search of the missing piece of personal memorabilia to no avail.
With no luck, she took to Facebook to ask for assistance from locals and was warmed by an overwhelming amount of support.
“There’s been just such an outpouring. I am overwhelmed. I feel so blessed,” Soyland told News 12 while tearing up.
Some neighbors have already made trips to Calf Pasture Beach seeking the lost amulet, according to the outlet — which ran into one such stranger with a metal detector by chance.
“Out of everything bad, something good happens. And the something good is so many people have reached out and so many people have shared things on Facebook and said, ‘Keep your eye out for this. It needs to get back to her.’ That’s touching. That’s an amazing thing,” Soyland told the news station.
Johnny left behind a son when he passed away.
“He was the best father bar none. He was amazing,” his mom said.
The necklace with his ashes has yet to be found.
Connecticut
Gifts of Love provides for Connecticut families in crisis
Connecticut
Connecticut National Guard families come together for annual holiday event
HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) — On Saturday morning, families of the Connecticut National Guard gathered for an annual event designed to provide support and comfort during the holiday season.
Operation Embracing Lonely Families has been a tradition for 23 years, offering much-needed support to military families separated from loved ones who are deployed.
The event focuses on easing some of the financial burden and emotional stress that military families face during deployments, especially during the holidays.
“It’s an enjoyment because it brings everyone closer during the holiday so they can still be around their family too,” said Newton Maldonado, a National Guard soldier.
One of the attendees, Nicole Scalora, whose husband was recently deployed to Africa for a year, shared the challenges of military life.
“It’s tough. We have to take it one day at a time. Doing everything at home by yourself, not having that shoulder to rely on can be difficult. But I have a lot of family and a lot of support, so that helped a lot. Also, the military is constantly reaching out. Making sure that we’re good and that if we need help, they’re there,” she said.
Saturday’s event included treats and toys for the families, as well as a visit from Santa Claus.
The tradition, which began under former Governor Jodi Rell and continued by each subsequent Lieutenant Governor, has become a symbol of appreciation for those who serve and their families.
While this year’s ceremony was smaller in scale, organizers are expecting the event to grow significantly next year, with nearly 800 families anticipated to attend.
These families are affected by the various deployments of National Guard members overseas.
Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz expressed her gratitude, noting, “, I’m really glad for the people of Connecticut that our celebration is rather small, because it means our national guard families are here at home celebrating.”
The event remains an important opportunity for the community to come together and honor the sacrifices made by military families throughout Connecticut.
Copyright 2024 WFSB. All rights reserved.
Connecticut
Several vehicles and outdoor furnace destroyed in fire in Woodstock
Several vehicles and an outdoor furnace were destroyed in a fire in Woodstock on Friday night.
Firefighters from Muddy Brook Fire Department responded to Paine District Road around 9 p.m. for a report of a detached garage on fire with exposure.
When fire crews arrived, they said they found a 20′ by 20′ building with fire throughout.
According to fire officials, several vehicles and an outdoor furnace were destroyed in the fire.
The fire did not spread from the building of origin and no injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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