Arbor Rose resident receives Golden Kielbasa Award for World War II service

New Britain natives Joseph Roman, an Arbor Rose resident since 2012, Stan Dabrowski and the late Ray Greene recently received the Golden Kielbasa Award in recognition of their World War II service. The 2015 Golden Kielbasa Veterans Open, which benefited many veteran-related causes in central Connecticut, was held Oct. 1 at the Tunxis Plantation Country Club in Farmington.
Dennis Buden, founder and tournament director, wrote Roman’s life story for the program. In part: “After his parents died when he was young, Joe was raised by Catholic nuns in Polish orphanages on Burritt Street in New Britain and in New York City. He enlisted in the Marines at age 19 in December 1942, shipped out of Camp Pendleton, San Diego, California in the spring of 1944 and spent a month on Guadalcanal preparing for the battles ahead.”
Serving as a radio operator with the Third Joint Assault Signal Company, Third Marine Division, “Roman is a proud survivor of the Battle of Iwo Jima where he managed vital ship-to-shore and ship-to-air radio communications. [He] is a graduate of New York University, spent a career in the transportation industry, and raised three boys in New Britain with his wife Margaret, who passed in 2012. A member of the Iwo Jima Survivors Association, Roman has seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren…”
“It has only been in recent years that Roman has been able to speak about his war experiences. “I rarely spoke about it. We were busy raising three boys,” he says. “But it was all quite an experience, of course.
“I’m grateful for all the blessings I’ve had through the years: A wonderful family, a grand life with my wife for almost 65 years, and beautiful grandchildren and great-grandchildren.”
At the event, the three honorees were presented with framed, signed prints of “Uncommon Valor” by New Britain artist Jerzy Michalski, an original oil painting which honors the 100 Connecticut sons – four from New Britain – who were killed during the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945. Roman’s print is displayed in his Arbor Rose residence.
Roman, now 92, said he was honored to be celebrated and was particularly moved by the fact that his three sons, John, Joe and Mike, and family members attended, coming from various areas of the country. Always humble, he said, “I think I’m more proud of them than they are of me.”
To read Buden’s entire article about the honorees, visit www.goldenkielbasa.org.

Arbor Rose, offering independent and assisted living with memory care on the campus of Jerome Home in New Britain, is a not for profit member of Hartford HealthCare Senior Services. For more information, visit jeromehome.org.

Caption: Photo courtesy of Courtney Robertson

Joseph Roman, resident of Arbor Rose in New Britain, receives congratulations from his family during the Golden Kielbasa Award event.