Angelo Paul Ramunni, Director of The New England Accordion Connection & Museum Co. shares, “We have an accordion museum here in North Canaan, Ct. Included in the display of 500+ accordions are units that are for sale. We do repairs, lessons and have sheet music for sale as well.

But perhaps even more importantly, we collect the stories that accompany the instruments. Many of the older accordions were previously owned by folks as far back as the early 1800’s. Consequently, they come to us with many memories. We are always anxious to capture those stories and retell them to people who come in for the tours and gatherings we offer at the museum.

This posting is in honor of Memorial Day 2026 and the men and women who sacrificed so much for our country. From the very early stories of soldiers bringing their flutina accordions onto battlefields of the Civil War, to the horror of the concentration camps such as those at Dachau, Germany in WW II, the accordion found its way into some of the darkest places and conditions in the world to spread some happiness.

The picture attached to this posting is one of the most dramatic and important stories we have. The landing crafts used during the D-Day invasion of the beaches at Normandy were incredible vehicles. We have an accordion from a person whose father was a driver of one of those crafts. He said his dad went through the war with his accordion taking it wherever he was assigned. He played it frequently to help keep up the morale and spirits of the troops. He kept it in the boat near his feet where he and it would be shielded. His assignment on June 6, 1944 was to deliver the troops to the beaches.

His son told me that many of the troops in the early boat runs never made it out of the boats. The incoming firing from the shore batteries was very intense. In some cases, the bullets would enter the bodies of the soldiers up in the front of the craft and also continue on into the bodies of the troops behind them.

Our most sacred job here at our accordion museum is to keep the memory of these kinds of stories alive so they can be retold over and over again especially to our children. The accordion was a very popular instrument from when it was first created over 200 years ago. As a result, it found its way into the darkest of experiences as well as many happy occasions. Its traditional sound marks all of these events very well.

We gather together here at our museum every month to play our accordions and to hear folks play whatever instrument they bring. We tell stories, we hear music, we make friends and we make memories. When I first started this museum experience, I was focused on the instrument itself. But that has changed. It’s not only about the songs and sounds or even the music itself. It’s really all about us and what we should be doing to come together again to enjoy each other’s company.

They used to say, “United we stand, divided we fall.”

Something to think about and act on.

I’ve included a list of the upcoming dates when we will be gathering at our “Groovin’ at the Depot” events. Come and join us. Please consider supporting us and bring your instrument to play or just come to listen. On this Memorial Day Weekend, we need to remember what so many people did for us in the past wars and conflicts.

“They sacrificed their lives so we could live ours…”

Upcoming dates for Groovin’ at the North Canaan Ct. depot:

Sunday June 7, 2026…3 PM-5 PM

Sunday June 28, 2026…3 PM-5 PM

Sunday July 19, 2026…3 PM – 5 PM

Sunday August 9, 2026 …3 PM- 5 PM

Angelo Paul Ramunni
Director of The New England Accordion Connection & Museum Co.
75 Main St. North Canaan, CT 06018 (P O Box 943)
860-833-1374 (cell)

Books written by Angelo Paul Ramunni: (All books are available for sale on Amazon.com)
“Pocket Cross Miracles, Stories of Hope, Healing and Encouragement”
“God Loves U-Turns, Our Last Chance to Make it Right“
“Rich Catholic, Poor Catholic, The Road to Grace”
“Accordion Stories from the Heart”
www.neacmc.com www.stonepocketcross.com