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Matulaitis honors veterans
PUTNAM — Matulaitis resident and U.S. Army veteran Larry Bellerose receives a “Quilt of Valor” from “Stitch Chicks Crew” members at the Annual Veteran Day Celebration held at Matulaitis Rehab & Skilled Care Nov. 17.
Fourteen resident veterans, five staff members and one volunteer were honored at the event, sponsored by the Matulaitis Family Council. His grandson, Zachary Willard is by his side.
The mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation, begun in 2003, is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.
Bellerose served his country from 1959 until 1991 in the U.S. Army and the Army Reserves.
He served in along the east coast as well as in Korea, Vietnam and in the Cold War in weapons, tactics and command. He was the liaison officer for West Point Academy.
Adelard “Del” Dubreuil, 99, receives his Recognition Certificate and American Flag from Brian Maynard, commander of the Putnam American Legion Post 13.
Dubreuil, a Putnam native, served his country during WWII as a corporal in the U.S. Army from 1942 until 1945.  He landed on Omaha and Utah Beaches in August of 1944 during the Normandy invasion and participated in the Battle of the Bulge under General George S. Patton, Commander U.S. Third Army.
Fernanda Clapp, a Matulaitis resident and U.S. Navy veteran was also honored. Clapp served her country in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1945 as a WAVE in the Singing Platoon in Washington, D.C.

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