A World War II Memorial Ceremony has been held in Danbury.  The Danbury Council of Veterans and the Catholic War Veterans held the ceremony at the Rose Gardens on Memorial Drive Thursday morning.  The featured speaker and honoree at the event was former City Councilman John Esposito. 

He is a Marine who took part in four amphibious landings in the Pacific during the war and was seriously wounded on Iwo Jima.  He still carries bullet fragments in his elbow from the intense hours of combat.  Esposito earned the Purple Heart among other medals and commendations. 

When he returned home, Espisito served 30 years with the Postal Service and as a volunteer fireman.  He is the longest serving councilman in Danbury's history. 

The Marine Corps honored him in 2009 as being the "founding father" of the 25th Regiment, which has a Reserve battalion in Plainville.