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caption, page 2:
New Roof
Volunteers replaced the roof at the Putnam VFW. Linda Lemmon photo.
'Honored' with a
new roof
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM --- It was the least we could do.
Determined to "honor the men and women who serve our great nation" Norman Beaupre of Woodstock Valley, gathered together donations and volunteers and put a new roof on the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1523 on Providence Street in Putnam.
"The VFW has been and continues to be a gift to those men and women who serve our Great Nation. Offering scholarships for our local young, providing Easter and Thanksgiving dinners with volunteer entertainment to challenged residents of the area, sponsors Red Cross blood drives, Project Relief funds to help the widows and orphans of our fallen heroes, the Color Guard members attend the funerals of servicemen and women on behalf of a grateful Nation," he said.
Despite the frigid air, dozens of volunteers helped Beaupre re-roof the VFW building.
Beaupre works at Centimark's and co workers volunteered their time and expertise to do the work. The Young Marines of Quinebaug Valley helped as well as others.
Beaupre asked vendors to donate materials to the project and the following helped out: Bradco, a division of ABC in Hartford, donated 30-year architectural shingles; Suffield Lumber supplied the lumber; Atlantic Asphalt of East Hartford donated the nails and Centimark's satellite office in Rocky Hill donated underlayment and gutters.
And if all goes according to plan, other vendors may be behind a new wood floor for the VFW hall.
Beaupre served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam and Germany as well as stateside in Virginia, Maryland, Texas, California and Massachusetts. He left the Army after more than 13 years honorably to help his mother Lorraine and ailing father Norman Sr. save their business Beaupre's Campground. He later worked for charities.
He said, "The VFW is my organization. I am proud to be a member of such a prestigious organization that gives back to those whom have given some or all to protect and preserve our way of life."