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Color Guard of Woodstock's American Legion Benson-Flugel Post 111. More photos on page 4 and, on Wed. night, on our Facebook page - Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger. Linda Lemmon photo.
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Honored
American Legion Post #13 Commander Michael S. Vassar, center, stands with Korean War veterans Rolland “Rollie” Johnson, left, and Robert “Bob” St.Onge, who display the plaques they were awarded by the Post as part of the Post’s Veterans Day celebration and recognition.
Pride
Michelle A. Vassar, right, proudly stands with her son, U.S. Marine Corps Private Connor M. Vassar, center, and her husband American Legion Post #13 Commander Michael S. Vassar, after being honored as a “Blue Star Mother of America.” She holds her “Blue Star” banner which symbolizes the fact that her son is on active duty. Private Vassar and Commander Vassar, also a former Marine, display certificates symbolic of their service in the Marine Corps. The awards were presented by Retired Sgt. Major Manuel “Manny” Rodrigues of Coventry. Photos courtesy of WINY Radio.
Glenn Boies, commander of Americna Legion Benson-Flugel Post 111, gets some help from one of the Woodstock Academy students who attended the post's Veterans Day ceremony, senior Zachary Gessner. Linda Lemmon photo.
Post 13 celebrates
Veterans Day
The Mayotte-Viens American Legion Post #13 of Putnam paid tribute to veterans with its annual Veterans Tribute & Guest Bartender Night last week.
This marked the 13th consecutive year that Post #13 has held the event, which began in 2010. The evening is the Post’s largest fund-raiser of the year with proceeds benefitting activities such as scholarships, American Legion baseball, the constitutional oratorical program, Boys State and State Police Youth Week, and the Post’s Veterans-in-Need program. Between guest bartenders, an auction and a drawing, the event raised about $14,000.
“Once again the community responded in supporting the veterans of our Post. We’re thankful to Craig Gates and his staff at Marley’s Pub for accommodating the large turnout that showed up in support of our guest bartenders,” said Post Commander Michael S. Vassar.
“It’s also a very touching time for our membership as we stop to honor and recognize veterans from our community who have selflessly served our country. The tribute to these veterans is our way of saying thank you and we don’t forget,” he added.
The Post honored three veterans, Korean War veteran Rolland “Rollie” Johnson, Past Post Commander Robert “Bob” St. Onge, also a Korean War vet, and George “Paul” Olson, a WWII Coast Guard veteran. Johnson and St. Onge were on hand to receive commemorative plaques, while Olson, who is 100, will be honored at Westview Health Care soon.
“I can’t believe what a great evening this is. I’m honored beyond what words can express. The members of Post #13 deserve so much credit for their effort on behalf of those of us who served many years ago,” said honoree Bob St. Onge.
The evening also held a special moment for Commander Vassar, as his wife was presented a “Blue Star Mother of America” banner in recognition of her son Private Connor M. Vassar who graduated from U.S. Marine Corps recruit training at Parris Island, S.C. Nov. 4. Manuel “Manny” Rodrigues, a career Marine and Army veteran and commander of American Legion Post #52 of Coventry, made the official presentation.
Commander Vassar also thanked the 16 guests who served as bartenders collecting $11,626 in tips, the largest portion of the evening’s proceeds. The guest bartenders included Jeff Rawson, Pat O’Brien, Joe Carlone Jr., Atty. Maddie Smith, Craig Gates, Tom Borner, Denny Gates, Mark Dexter, Marc and Tom Archambault, David Coderre, Jason Verraneault, Mayor Barney Seney, State Representative Rick L. Hayes, Jim St. Jean and George Amenabar.