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Honored

Ron Coderre, commander of American Legion Post #13 in Putnam, was honored as the Post Commander of the Year by the Department of Connecticut American Legion.  Coderre, left, receives the Louis E. Molinaro Plaque from State Commander Paul Spedaliere. Courtesy photo.

 

Special to the Putnam Town Crier

Mayotte-Viens American Legion Post #13 Commander Ronald P. Coderre of Putnam was honored at the 98th Department of Connecticut American Legion Convention as the 2015-2016 Post Commander of the Year.  Coderre was honored at the State of Connecticut Convention in Trumbull July 9.  He was nominated for the award by former Department Adjutant Everett Shepard of Post #111 in Woodstock.

The commander of the Year Award in presented in honor of the late Thompson resident Louis E. Molinaro.  The former postmaster of the N. Grosvenordale Post Office served as the Department of Connecticut Commander in 1962-1963.

The Louis E. Molinaro Plaque is presented annually to the Post Commander who, according to the Department Awards Committee, is the most outstanding Post Commander of the current year.  The award was presented to Coderre by outgoing State Commander Paul Spedaliere and witnessed by Department Adjutant Harry R. Hansen Jr.

Coderre served in the U.S. Air Force as an Aircraft Control and Warning radar operator from 1959 through 1965.  During his tour he served at the 866th AC&W Station in Tonopah, Nev.; on the Mid-Canada Line at the 919th AC&W Station on Saskatoon Mountain in Alberta, Canada; and at the coastal radar 646th AC&W Station in Atlantic Highlands, N.J.

“It’s an honor to accept this award on behalf of Post #13.  This award was made possible thanks to the hard work of the men and women veterans of Post #13 who are dedicated to serving our community.  Our motto this year was ‘Believe, Achieve, Succeed – Together.’  Working as a team we’ve moved our Post in a positive direction,” Coderre told the Legionnaires at the convention.

“This award is extra special because it’s presented in honor of Louis Molinaro, a man I knew personally and admired.  He was a person of character and leadership,” Coderre added.

Most recently Post #13 members Barney Seney, Donald Steinbrick, Alan Joslin and Victor Kratz were responsible for decorating Veterans Memorial Bridge on Pomfret Street with an array of flags, which will fly each year from Memorial Day in May through the Wreaths Across America ceremony in December.

Post #13 members also presented a five-week Americanism program for fifth graders in the Putnam schools, awarded a scholarship to a local high school student who is moving on to college, initiated a scholarship to a veteran attending Quinebaug Valley Community College, supported the TriTown American Legion Baseball Program and provided a special Christmas to the family of a local veteran.

The Post Color Guard unit participates in local parades and special ceremonies involving veterans and will march in the VJ Day Parade in Plainfield in August.  The members are active in the Putnam Business Association.  The Post also honors two veterans annually at its Veterans Day ceremony.  The membership meets the second Monday of each month from September through June in the conference room at Gerardi Insurance on Pomfret Street in Putnam.

“Last year our membership grew from 94 members to 124.  We’re encouraging area veterans who want to learn more about our Post and American Legion to contact us at 860.928.6772 or by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  American Legion is available to assist veterans through our veterans Services Officer,” Coderre said.

The American Legion will celebrate its 100th anniversary with special centennial celebrations in 2019.