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Fund-raisers

The Putnam After School Services helped the American Legion Post 13 raise funds for the WWII banners to be displayed in Putnam. Pictured are the PASS students with Legion Commander Ron Coderre, Sue Allard and Coleen Dicolella. Courtesy photo.

 

 

PUTNAM — Working in support of the Mayotte-Viens American Legion Post #13 project to display banners of WWII veterans throughout Putnam, the Putnam After School Services (PASS), under the guidance of coordinators Sue Allard and Colleen Dicolella, have made the dream a reality. 

Post #13 led by Commander Ronald P. Coderre, Past Commander Barney Seney and Sons of American Legion Commander Arthur “Buster” Corey initiated the banner project titled “Hometown Heroes.”  The banners, which will be on display throughout Putnam from Labor Day to Veterans Day, will feature photos of 32 Putnam men who were part of the military during WWII.  The cost of the banners is about $2,500.

A special fund-raiser chicken Parmesan dinner was held March 4 and about $4,500 was raised.

The veterans approached Putnam Recreation director Willie Bousquet and the PASS program stepped in offering to schedule the dinner. “When we heard of this project we wholeheartedly embraced the idea.  We thought if we could sell 300 tickets to the dinner we could cover all the costs.  Although our goal was ambitious, we knew it would be supported by the community,” said PASS coordinator Sue Allard.

 “This effort, led by Sue Allard and Colleen Dicolella, was truly amazing.  The energy they provided the project put it over the top almost instantly.  The young kids in PASS are so proud of what they’ve accomplished.  As veterans and members of Post #13 we can’t thank them enough for their untiring work in making this possible,” said Coderre.

Thanks to the united effort, the Putnam community will be decorated with banners honoring those who served during WWII.  The banners will serve as a compliment to the flags, another Post #13 project, that are displayed during the summer months on the WW1 Veterans Memorial Bridge on Pomfret Street.