Honoring Medal of Honor hero
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — Under an ocean blue sky March 8, veterans, residents, officials, and families gathered in Veterans Park as Putnam honored Medal of Honor winner Henry Breault by declaring March 8 Henry Breault Day
In 1923 Putnam native Breault was a torpedo man serving on a submarine that was involved in a collision in the Panama Canal. The sub filled with seawater in a minute. Breault could have escaped but instead he went back into the sub to help a trapped sailor. They closed the torpedo room door and were rescued 31 hours later. Breault is the only enlisted submariner to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Emcee and veteran Brian Maynard said the community “comes together time and time again to find ways to honor those who gave great service to our country.”
Mayor Barney Seney read the proclamation designating March 8 as Henry Breault Day. The he added, “We want to make sure his name and his service are not forgotten.”
In his remarks, State Senator Jeff Gordon noted how Putnam — even the entire state — has a community spirit that “helps others and especially remembers our veterans.”
“When I learned more about what Henry Breault did — rushing into that sunken submarine … he didn’t have to do it, but he put his life in danger to save a fellow submariner. And he did it because he knew about service; he knew about loyalty. He knew about faith, and in the end, it did work out well for them. But that is an incredible legacy.” He added “it’s an incredible example for others to follow.”
Gordon called upon citizens to say thank you to veterans every day but also “ask what we can do to be of help to those who have served with them, their families. So the work we do as the state, and especially as a country, is everyday work.”
State dignitaries also spoke. John DeBisschop, American Legion state commander, spoke about the bravery of pals, the teamwork, the sacrifices. Breault’s actions were “an extreme example of the lengths to which our servicemen and women will go for their brothers and sisters in arms.” He added when the situation becomes most difficult it was “no longer their sense of pride or patriotism that urged them forward. It was their sense of duty to those serving shoulder to shoulder with them.”
Connecticut Veterans Affairs Commissioner Ron Welch said Breault’s “extraordinary courage on 28 October 1923 set the example for all service members to emulate.” Speaking about the services of the veterans department, he said since 46,000 out of the 146,000 veterans in Connecticut are in the eastern part of the state, the department is going to push to bring on three more teams, one somewhere up here in the northeast (corner).”
United States Submarine Veterans Inc. Northeast Regional District’s Jeff Walsh also called for the Navy to name one of the Virginia class submarines after Breault.
Ryan Walker, who wrote a book about Breault, “The Silent Service’s First Hero” is one of many who spearheaded the effort honor Breault with Henry Breault Day and the effort to have a submarine named after him. He said a Navy motto is “semper fortis” which means “always courageous”. Breault knew full well there was no established method for submarine escape. “What he did was unbelievably courageous.”
Helping with the event were: The Town of Putnam, the Putnam Recreation Department, the Putnam Police Department, the Putnam Fire Department, USS Henry Breault Association, Inc. American Legion Post #13, Alfred J. Breault VFW Post 1523, Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse, Mo Coderre (who sang the National Anthem), Veterans Advisory Committee, Kyle Knickerbocker, Natchaug River Young Marines, USSVI-United States Submarine Veterans, Inc. American Legion Post 91 and many more.
DeBisschop said: “We carry forward Henry Breault’s story and the stories of all veterans ensuring their deeds and our nation’s gratitude endure forever.”
In her remarks State Senator Mae Flexer said: “I’m hopeful that this day is not only an opportunity for everyone in this community to think once again about who Henry Breault was and what his service meant and the lives that he saved and his dedicated service and that he isn’t just a name.”
captions, page 1:
The Putnam Fire Department unfurls an American flag at the Henry Breault Day ceremony March 8 at Veterans Park. More photos on page 4. Expanded photo array Wed. night on our FB page: Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger. Linda Lemmon photo.
captions, page 4, clockwise from top left:
From left: State Senators Mae Flexer and Jeff Gordon, Brian Maynard, CT Veterans Affairs Commissioner Ron Welch, Mayor Barney Seney, author and organizer Ryan Walker, American Legion State Commander John DeBisschop.
Ryan Walker
Left: United States Submarine Veterans Inc. ready to lay the wreath on the bridge. Left below: Firing off a small gun.
Retired Navy Master Chief Don Sherman
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