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Honored
Ron Coderre, commander of American Legion Post #13 in Putnam, was honored as the Post Commander of the Year by the Department of Connecticut American Legion. Coderre, left, receives the Louis E. Molinaro Plaque from State Commander Paul Spedaliere. Courtesy photo.
Special to the Putnam Town Crier
Mayotte-Viens American Legion Post #13 Commander Ronald P. Coderre of Putnam was honored at the 98th Department of Connecticut American Legion Convention as the 2015-2016 Post Commander of the Year. Coderre was honored at the State of Connecticut Convention in Trumbull July 9. He was nominated for the award by former Department Adjutant Everett Shepard of Post #111 in Woodstock.
The commander of the Year Award in presented in honor of the late Thompson resident Louis E. Molinaro. The former postmaster of the N. Grosvenordale Post Office served as the Department of Connecticut Commander in 1962-1963.
The Louis E. Molinaro Plaque is presented annually to the Post Commander who, according to the Department Awards Committee, is the most outstanding Post Commander of the current year. The award was presented to Coderre by outgoing State Commander Paul Spedaliere and witnessed by Department Adjutant Harry R. Hansen Jr.
Coderre served in the U.S. Air Force as an Aircraft Control and Warning radar operator from 1959 through 1965. During his tour he served at the 866th AC&W Station in Tonopah, Nev.; on the Mid-Canada Line at the 919th AC&W Station on Saskatoon Mountain in Alberta, Canada; and at the coastal radar 646th AC&W Station in Atlantic Highlands, N.J.
“It’s an honor to accept this award on behalf of Post #13. This award was made possible thanks to the hard work of the men and women veterans of Post #13 who are dedicated to serving our community. Our motto this year was ‘Believe, Achieve, Succeed – Together.’ Working as a team we’ve moved our Post in a positive direction,” Coderre told the Legionnaires at the convention.
“This award is extra special because it’s presented in honor of Louis Molinaro, a man I knew personally and admired. He was a person of character and leadership,” Coderre added.
Most recently Post #13 members Barney Seney, Donald Steinbrick, Alan Joslin and Victor Kratz were responsible for decorating Veterans Memorial Bridge on Pomfret Street with an array of flags, which will fly each year from Memorial Day in May through the Wreaths Across America ceremony in December.
Post #13 members also presented a five-week Americanism program for fifth graders in the Putnam schools, awarded a scholarship to a local high school student who is moving on to college, initiated a scholarship to a veteran attending Quinebaug Valley Community College, supported the TriTown American Legion Baseball Program and provided a special Christmas to the family of a local veteran.
The Post Color Guard unit participates in local parades and special ceremonies involving veterans and will march in the VJ Day Parade in Plainfield in August. The members are active in the Putnam Business Association. The Post also honors two veterans annually at its Veterans Day ceremony. The membership meets the second Monday of each month from September through June in the conference room at Gerardi Insurance on Pomfret Street in Putnam.
“Last year our membership grew from 94 members to 124. We’re encouraging area veterans who want to learn more about our Post and American Legion to contact us at 860.928.6772 or by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . American Legion is available to assist veterans through our veterans Services Officer,” Coderre said.
The American Legion will celebrate its 100th anniversary with special centennial celebrations in 2019.
Honored
WORCESTER — Several local students were named to the Assumption College dean’s list for the spring 2016 semester: “Rachael Hickey of Woodstock, a member of the Class of 2016; Caroline Kenney of Woodstock, a member of the Class of 2016; Lauren Bretanha of Chepachet, a member of the Class of 2017; David Gazzola of Putnam, a member of the Class of 2017.
On dean’s list
NEWTON, Mass. — Lasell College in Newton ecently named Emma Boisvert of Thompson to the Lasell College Dean’s List for the Spring 2016 semester. Boisvert, whose major is marketing, is a member of the class of 2019.
22 nuns
move to
Windham
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM --- In anticipation of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit property being sold, the 22 Sisters living in the Holy Spirit Health Care Center will now have a new home: St. Joseph Living Center in Windham.
A Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was celebrated last week and the Sisters were missioned by the Provincial of the US Province of DHS to "bring and live the charism of the Congregation in a new environment."
The center is licensed for 22 beds, according to Provincial Sr. Gertrude Lanouette and all 22 will be moving. The move will take place between June 24 and July 8. The health center has been at the Daughters of the Holy Spirit property since the mid-1980s.
"Changing demographics and numbers of the membership of the US Province led to the decision that changes, including the eventual sale of the Provincial House needed to be made to assure the long-term care of the Sisters and their continued involvement in a quality life of ministry," according to the Daughters of the Holy Spirit website.
"While this is indeed a bittersweet moment for our Province, it is deemed to be a huge blessing and an historical event for the Congregational that has been in Putnam for 100 years.. For the time being the Provincial House remains on the former Morse mansion site," the website said. The Province purchased the Morse mansion Jan. 12, 1916 and moved in in 1917.
Sister Lanouette said the Province has a buyer and the purchase is still being negotiated.
Putnam Bankrecently provided financing for the purchase of a new piece of equipment for their long-term customer, Aerotech Fasteners Inc., located in the Putnam Industrial Park. Left to right: Kim Bushey, Putnam Bank Chief Commercial Lending Officer; Jay Sinha, Putnam Bank Vice President Commercial Lending ; Frank Dirienzo, Aerotech Vice President & Owner; Erik Sandberg-Diment, Aerotech President & Owner; Tom Borner, Putnam Bank President & CEO.
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