Waiting, Waiting ...
A stack of trellises is waiting for the growing season. If trellises had fingers, they'd be drumming them impatiently. More photos on page 4. Expanded photo array Wed. night on our FB page: Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger. Linda Lemmon photo.

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Hometown Heroes of WWII
Pvt. 1st Class Armand LaFleur, U.S. Army
By Michael Rocchetti
In early December 1944, the 106th Infantry Division sailed from Southampton England to Le Harve France where they were then taken by road through France and Belgium to the Schnee Eifel region in the Ardennes. The area was deep in snow with sub-zero temperatures and thick fog. These inexperienced troops relieved the battle-hardened 2nd Infantry Division and took up positions along a front line that stretched 21 miles in a region of extensive forests, rough terrain, rolling hills and ridges.
Little did they know that they occupied the sector that was directly in the path of the main German thrust during the Battle of the Bulge, which kicked off on Dec. 16, 1944. The 106th division’s 422nd and 423rd Infantry Regiments were encircled and cut off by a junction of enemy forces in the vicinity of Schönberg. The two regiments of the 106th regrouped for a counterattack, but were blocked by the enemy. The two regiments surrendered on Dec. 19. The Germans gained 6,000 prisoners in one of the largest mass surrenders in American military history. Some of the soldiers of the 106th evaded captivity and withdrew over the Our River and joined other stragglers in St Vith. From there they mounted a five-day holding action from the 17th to Dec. 21.
It was somewhere in this vicinity on Dec. 21, 1944, where Armand Lafleur was wounded and captured. Seven days later, on Dec. 28, 1944, he died of his wounds at a German prison camp. However, official military records note that he was either executed, or shot while attempting to escape.
Private 1st Class Armand Lafleur was assigned to the 423rd Infantry Regiment, 106th Infantry Division. He was born on Jan. 31, 1917, in N. Grosvenordale, the son of French Canadian immigrants Felix-Philip Lafleur, and Marie-Louise Martel. Armand Lafleur enlisted in the Army on June 2,1941. He is buried at Plot H, Row 12, Grave: 24 at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in Margraten, Netherlands. He was survived by his father, his wife Yvonne Bourque Lafleur, his five brothers, and two sisters.

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1st bulky disposal in Pomfret a success; now on to ‘contract’
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM/POMFRET — Putnam’s first foray into out-of-town bulky waste disposal went off beautifully March 1.
Putnam is collaborating with Pomfret in its transfer station. It made sense, according to Putnam Highway Superintendent Travis Sirrine because Putnam did not have a suitable spot and Pomfret did. March 1 was Putnam’s first bulky waste disposal at Pomfret’s transfer station and, according to Sirrine and Pomfret First Selectman Maureen Nichols, it went very smoothly.
It was Putnam-only March 1. Following the disposal day, Casella weighed the dumpsters and Putnam will pay based on tonnage.
With that smooth start, the two towns are continuing their discussion on their memorandum of understanding for the transfer station. Also to be worked out is a schedule, Nichols said.
Neither town anticipates any problems with the memorandum — it’s just a matter of getting it done.
In the meantime, Nichols said the station is awaiting the delivery of an attendant’s shed (which will be inside the gate), electricity and a compactor for cardboard. She said all of that is on order.
In addition she said a “swap spot” is also a goal, as Pomfret and its Green Team are very serious about recycling. The transfer station is paid for by two Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) grants and two timber harvests, she said.
Putnam’s Sirrine said there weren’t quite as many Putnam residents taking part as took part during Putnam’s last bulky waste collection. The system worked smoothly and the line moved quickly, he said. Some Putnam residents did say that the transfer station didn’t show up on their GPS. “We’ll work on getting a pin on the map” or something, Sirrine said. 
Most residents were very positive about the new setup.
It went much quicker, he said, “there was a steady stream.” 
“The self-unloading may have put some people off,” he said —but bringing your own labor will be the new normal. 
In terms of the number of vehicles, Sirrine said he saw 60, maybe 70 percent of the number of vehicles at Putnam’s last bulky waste collection. But those folks brought a lot of bulky waste. Sirrine said that the bulky, the metal and the mattress dumpsters were filled and exchanged for empty ones.
“A lot of people said they were looking forward to the next one,” Sirrine said. 

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