Rhode Island
Musician duo performs free concert for veterans in Rhode Island
BRISTOL, R.I. (WJAR) — It was music to the ears this week at the Rhode Island Veterans Home in Bristol.
“I love music,” said Robert Nordstrom.
The U.S. Navy veteran sat and listened as songs written by Mozart played by two visiting musicians.
“I’ve heard a lot of classical music,” said Nordstrom.
Robert Nordstro, a U.S. Navy veteran, sat and listened as songs written by Mozart played by two visiting musicians. (WJAR)
For Nordstrom, it was a familiar sound.
“My wife taught violin and piano at home. I had four kids that play the violin,” said Nordstrom.
He himself played the harmonica for seven decades, he said, but now he listens to the sounds of a violin and a viola among his fellow residents and service members like 94-year-old George Cottrell Junior.
“I love comforting music. Peace,” said Cottrell.
Cottrell said he had seen a lot of conflict, serving in combat for both the Korean and Vietnam wars.
“Life is short,” said Cottrell.
It was music to the ears this week at the Rhode Island Veterans Home in Bristol. (WJAR)
“For us, it’s very special to be here,” said violinist Alexey Shabalin.
The talented duo works with the Aurea Ensemble: a local group using music and the spoken word to bring people together.
They hope to expand community arts programming in Rhode Island to support the social and emotional health of our aging veterans.
“The point is to uplift them. To give them joy!” said violist and artistic director for Aurea Consuelo Sherba.
Navy Veteran Francis Jalette said his favorite music genre had more twang.
“I like country music,” said Jalette.
It was music to the ears this week at the Rhode Island Veterans Home in Bristol. (WJAR)
No matter what music it is, everyone agreed. The songs were as sweet as the comradery in the room.
“We have so much in common, so we enjoy it very much!” said Jalette.
Nordstrom had a front row seat to history, and now to the string performance at the veterans home.
The 87-year-old said he will continue to listen to music as long as he can.
“I’ve been through a lot myself, but I hope I can stay around a little while and listen to music,” said Nordstrom.
This concert was one in a series of four free concerts for veterans at the home.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island 18-year-old arrested in beach stabbing as hundreds of teens packed area
A Rhode Island teenager who was out on bail for a gun charge was charged Friday in connection with the stabbing of three people as hundreds of teens crowded the beach
Willy Medina, 18, was identified as a suspect in the stabbing that broke out at Narragansett Town Beach just after 3 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Narragansett Police Department.
Medina is accused of slashing three beachgoers as the rowdy crowd went into a frenzy, according to video obtained by WJAR.
The three victims were hospitalized with minor stab wounds.
The Rhode Island State Police Violent Fugitive Task Force arrested Medina in his hometown of Pawtucket and charged him on one count of felony assault, Chief Kyle Rekas said.
Medina was arraigned Friday in the 4th District Court and held on a bail violator. He was also ordered to have no contact with minors, WPRI reported.
Officials did not release a motive in the stabbing, as the investigation is ongoing.
Medina was out on bail at the time for a shooting in Pawtucket back in April.
Police allege Medina and another 18-year-old were part of a larger crowd when a disturbance broke out and a gunshot was fired off, striking a parked car, according to WJAR.
Medina was charged with carrying a pistol without a license, firing in a compact area, vandalism and disorderly conduct.
In the aftermath of Tuesday’s stabbings, Narragansett Police arrested two men in the public beach’s parking lot on charges of simple assault, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and obstruction of justice.
Hours before the stabbing, 20 miles away in Middletown, RI, approximately 1,200 teens overran Second Beach on the Sachuest Bay, the Middletown police said.
Several people between the ages of 17 and 19 were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and obstructing an officer.
Ronan Pinkham, an 18-year-old from Massachusetts, was arrested after he allegedly struck a Newport police officer with his car in the parking lot as he attempted to flee.
Pinkman admitted to driving under the influence before he was arrested and charged with felony assault and DUI.
Illegal teen takeovers have plagued popular shopping centers and beaches in several states in the weeks leading up to Memorial Day Weekend.
Several hundred teens and young adults illegally took over a popular boardwalk in Long Branch, New Jersey, on Tuesday, leading to several arrests of out-of-towners.
Police in Delaware arrested four Delaware State University students for leading a booze-fueled takeover of Rehoboth Beach that prompted a heavy police presence in the popular Atlantic town.
Xander Nicholl, 19, Angelin Clauvil, 21, Eric Barnett, 21, and 22-year-old Keyon Scott are all facing charges relating to facilitating a riot, as well as conspiracy in the second degree.
Rhode Island
Remains identified as World War II pilot from Rhode Island
The Defense of POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced on Friday that a U.S. Army Air Force pilot from Rhode Island killed in World War II was located.
The agency said 2nd Lt. Robert J. Barrat, 20, of Woonsocket, was accounted for on April 30.
According to the organization, Barrat piloted a B-17G “Flying Fortress” bomber in 1945.
On Feb. 9,1945, witnesses reported seeing his aircraft collide with another aircraft during a bombing mission to Lutzkendorf, Germany.
The aircraft was then seen hitting the ground, killing eight of the 9 crew members onboard.
After the end of World War II, the American Graves Registrations Command began working to recover missing American personnel in Europe.
In 1947, members recovered eight sets of remains from marked burials in the Eisenberg Civilian Cemetery.
The remains were transferred to the Central Processing Point at Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium for analysis.
Members identified two sets of remains. The remaining six were identified as the collective remains of Barrat and five of his crew members.
The remains were then buried at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.
In Oct. 1991, a German citizen reported finding the crash site and recovered debris from the aircraft, including two inscribed rings.
The debris was turned over to the U.S. Army Memorial Affairs Activity Europe in Landstuhl, Germany and then to the Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii.
In 2024, the remains were re-examined for further analysis.
Scientists said they used anthropological analysis and mitochondrial DNA analysis to identify Barrat’s remains.
According to the University of Rhode Island, he attended Rhode Island State College (RISC) in Sept. 1941 with the class of 1945.
Barrat left college during his second year and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force in Nov. 1942.
He was posthumously cited for Gallantry in Action and Bravery and awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Barrat will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Alexandria, Virginia, on May 27.
Rhode Island
17-year-old sent to hospital after pedestrian crash in Woonsocket
WOONSOCKET, R.I. (WJAR) — The Woonsocket Police Department said a 17-year-old was sent to the hospital after a pedestrian crash on Park Avenue.
The department said the juvenile’s injuries were non-life-threatening.
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The vehicle involved in the crash fled the scene but was later located and brought to the department for processing, and an individual was being detained.
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