By Ron P. Coderre

When we define heroes today in America we most often think of professional athletes, astronauts, actors and actresses and even some of our leading politicians.  There was a time in our country when our heroes were simple men and women, people who just fit in to the fabric of society because they simply did the things that were correct in life.

Many of these people have grown in stature in recent years because we’ve come to recognize them as America’s Greatest Generation.  They are the individuals who fought in WWII to preserve the freedom we enjoy in America today.  Unfortunately their numbers are dwindling faster than we’d like, as they are dying by the thousands each year.

Putnam recently lost another member of the Greatest Generation with the passing of Edward J. Briere Sr. on Tuesday, August 19.  By his own admission, Briere was a very simple man but when you look below the surface you find a hero.

As a young man Briere was drafted by the U.S. Army and saw action in Germany during WWII, where he was captured and held as a prisoner of war for six months.  When he was liberated by Allied Forces on May 25, 1944, at the age of 21, he came out of the concentration camp weighing a mere 90 pounds.  Following a period of rehabilitation he returned home to Putnam.

Briere immediately went to work, there was no hero’s welcome for him and the thousands of others like him who were discharged from the military.  He worked at his job for more than 50 years.  He and his wife of 68 years, Irene raised four children.  They were faithful communicants at St. Mary Church.  And were simply good citizens who enjoyed family, friends and community.

It wasn’t until recent years that Briere was recognized for his service to his country.  He was named Grand Marshall of the Putnam Memorial Day Parade, and later was presented his Bronze Star and the other medals he had earned from his days in the military.  Even when he was presented his long overdue medals he was humble, stating “I just did what we all were supposed to do at that time.”

There were no frills about Eddie Briere.  He was a man who was faithful to his family, his employer, his church, his friends, his community and his country.  During his 90 years he was given on earth he blended in with the tapestry of the community, that is, until you took a deeper look and found a hero.

He’s gone now like so many from his era but his legacy will live on.  When heroes are talked about, Eddie Briere will be among those recognized, even though it may only be by those who got to know him more personally when he was alive.