The community continues to step up to support the family of a fallen state trooper. Family and friends will gather Tuesday for a funeral for Trooper 1st Class Aaron Pelletier, who lost his life last Thursday in a hit-and-run accident during a traffic stop on Interstate 84.
Tributes have been pouring in in Southington, including an act of kindness from one town business.
The memorial outside Della Vecchia Funeral Home is steadily collecting flowers and balloons, a sign of the growing support from the many whose lives were touched by TFC Pelletier.
Now, martial arts businesses in the area want to make sure everyone who is invited to pay their respects can do so.
While the young athletes practice their martial arts, photos honoring TFC Pelletier and his family hang on the studio walls.
“We have a personal connection to Mr. Pelletier and his family; his son, Troy, takes classes here,” said Leadership Martial Arts owner Rick Griffin. “One of the things I always say about Leadership Martial Arts is we are a family, and I truly believe we are, so we take care of ourselves.”
Her owner, Rick Griffin, is now placing her in the care of a family of his choosing.
All Southington schools will be closed on Tuesday for TFC Pelletier call time, so Leadership Martial Arts will be hosting a special all-day camp for children ages 5-12 and providing child care services.
“Just have a free day for everyone who can use it and benefit from it so they don't have to choose between paying respects and taking care of their kids,” Griffin said.
A mother enrolls her 5-year-old child in camp.
“It's just a really hard and sad time, honestly,” said Joanna Sestero of Wolcott, “so I think it's just so wonderful to see the community support and everyone coming together to show just so much love and support and care.”
This is all thanks to one father's efforts to help another father's family.
“Our sons are the same age, and I can't imagine the heartbreak that this family must be going through and the years they've had to grow up without their father,” Griffin said. “So my heart just breaks for them and I want to do everything I can to help them.”
New photos of the Pelletier family show the 34-year-old as a husband and father to two children, including him kissing his wife, holding two babies in each arm and teaching his son how to play baseball.
On Sunday, TFC Pelletier's son Troy paid tribute to his father at the baseball park by throwing the ceremonial first pitch at a Yard Goats game, along with his brother Zach and mother Dominique.
“Some of my friends know him because he was their baseball coach, and some of my friends' younger brothers and sisters are on his teams,” said Giovanni Grandetti of Southington.
Grandetti, 9, was one of dozens who paid solemn respects at a growing memorial in Southington, as a community united in grief, with tears and reflection.
“We just wanted to come pay our respects,” Southington resident Susan Koski said, “It's been a tough few days for the whole town, and we wanted to bring our sons and remember him and his family.”
Parents who want to enroll their children in Leadership Martial Arts' free day camp must reserve a spot and sign a waiver in advance using this online link The camp can accommodate approximately 50 children.
