Community Corner
Picnic Honors Life of Cpl. Stephen R. Bixler
The Annual Corporal Stephen R. Bixler Memorial Picnic will take place on Sunday, May 29 at the Suffield Sportsmen's Club.
The Annual Cpl. Stephen R. Bixler Memorial Picnic will take place Sunday, May 29 this year. The picnic honors and celebrates the life of Stephen R. Bixler, a Suffield Marine killed while serving his country in Iraq in 2006.
The venue for the event's fourth occurance is the Suffield Sportsmen's Club on Phelps Road, provided as a donation from the Suffield Sportsmen's Association. In addition to food and drink, the picnic will feature music, fellowship and outdoor activites including football, whiffle ball and horseshoes. The picnic runs from noon until 5 p.m.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Corporal Stephen J. Bixler Memorial Fund, a charity run by Bixler's parents Richard and Linda Bixler. The fund benefits community-centered projects, including lighting and drapery at the VFW hall in Suffield.
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In the past, the fund has provided assistance to the police association for the purchase of badge holders, belts, and flashlights. This year's donation will go towards upgrading the training room at the Suffield Police Departmemt. The fund has helped with Operation Hearing dog, raising money for the purchase of a hearing assistance dog for Suffield resident Amy Reay.
Anne Rossi, who helps organize the event, said the charity helps with “different things that would not be possible without the help of the fund because of budget cuts.”
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Rossi has two sons that were friends with Bixler. One of her sons served in the Marines with Bixler in Haiti.
“He was a great kid, a wonderful kid, would do anything for you,” she said of Bixler.
Tickets for the event are $15, and can be purchased at all branchs of the First National Bank of Suffield, The Suffield Inn, Suffield Hardware and Suffield Pizza. Prior years have seen attendance between 200 and 300 people, and all are encouraged to attend to honor the memory of one of Suffield's heroes.
To reserve tickets or get more information about the event, please contact Anne Rossi at 860-668-7592 or e-mail her at AnneR@fnbanksuffield.com
