In
Iraq, they were the ones who
tended to soldiers waging
another kind of war than the one
being fought on the ground. They
were the ones who held the hands
of the injured and the dying,
the ones other soldiers confided
in. Yesterday, the five members
of the 104th Chaplain Detachment
returned to Boston to face a new
challenge - that of coming home.
Do you know of a Special ANNOUNCEMENT you want listed?
Send us NEWS you would like to share with all Post 2 members.
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Veterans Council needs volunteers.
The Bristol Veterans Council needs volunteers to assist with the annual "Day of Caring" spring clean-up
of the Veterans Memorial Boulevard and Park on May 16th. All interested volunteers should meet
at the Barnes Group parking lot on Memorial Boulevard at 8:30am, May 16th.
The Bristol Veterans Council also needs volunteers to assist with its fourth annual Memorial Day Weekend
Commemoration Event - which will be held Sunday, May 25 from 8:00am until 8:30pm at Lake Compounce.
In addition to the need of volunteers to assist in all aspects of the day's event, a large number
of volunteers is especially needed to work security details throughout the entire weekend.
Anyone interested in volunteering in any capacity should meet at American Legion Post2 on Hooker Court,
Thursday (April 10) at 7:00pm. For additional information, contact Tim Gamache,
Bristol Veterans Council vice chairman, at 860-582-2372
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The Military Museum is now located at the
Bristol Historical Society.
The building's address is 98 Summer Street (to us older folks) the Freshman Building.
Our new location is handicapped accessable and, on the first floor.
We will have our first public opening on Saturday, April 19, 2008, Seicheprey Day, from 1:pm till 4:pm.
We will be featuring military artifacts, photos, letters etc., from the Battle of Seicheprey.
The building's address is 98 Summer Street (to us older folks) the Freshman Building.
Our new location is handicapped accessable and, on the first floor.
We will have our first public opening on Saturday, April 19, 2008, Seicheprey Day, from 1:pm till 4:pm.
We will be featuring military artifacts, photos, letters etc., from the Battle of Seicheprey.
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Everyday Heroes: Henry Raymond
Man Brings Recognition To Veterans
November 16, 2007
BRISTOL, Conn. --
A Connecticut veteran has made it
his mission to bring recognition to others who have served in the U.S.
armed forces. Henry
Raymond began his military
career during World War II,
serving as a member of the Maine State Guard. "I was 17 years old in
1943 when I went in," he said. Raymond later served in both the
Connecticut State Guard and the Army Reserve, retiring from his military
career 20 years ago at age 60. However, Raymond came out of
retirement at age 80 and
re-enlisted as part of the military honor guard. Every veteran is
entitled to a military funeral. That's what we provide," Raymond said.
"We had to enlist in the Connecticut State Guard and Reserve." The
honor guard, formed by Raymond late last year, provides a three-gun
salute at the funeral of any honorably discharged veteran. Since
Jan. 12 of this year, I think I have 85 funerals," he said.
Raymond said that sometimes he performs two to three funerals in one
day. For the past two decades, Raymond has also been working to
help living veterans. He devotes his time to bring veterans in his car
to sign up for their
benefits," said Korean War
veteran Wilfred Lavoie. "It's very important because veterans don't know
sometimes that they have benefits coming to them." Raymond said he
helps veterans fill out applications for VA benefits. He also created a
memorial to veterans alongside Bristol's Memorial Drive. The path of
personalized bricks bears the names of veterans. Raymond also served for
39 years as a member of the volunteer Terryville Fire Department, and
helped create a new fire company years ago. If it wasn't for him, we
wouldn't have a firehouse up on Fall Mountain," said Connie Aubin, of
Terryville.
071120
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Post 2 member
returns home after a 15 month tour in Iraq.
We are ALL very happy to have him safely home and would like to formally
Welcome him back home.
Chaplain Lt. Col. Ronald Huffman
has, in the past, given the invocation
ceremonies here on Memorial Boulevard ...)
Photo by Lisa Hornak,
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Chaplain Lt. Col.
Ronald Huffman hugs granddaughters Camryn
Coffey, 2, left, and Grace Lewton, 2, during
yesterday’s ceremony.
Chaplain thanked for service in Iraq
“They’ll have to get reacquainted with their families and make the transition back to civilian life after being away for a year,” said Jeff Keane, spokesman for the Army Reserve’s 94th Regional Readiness Command.
Chaplain thanked for service in Iraq
“They’ll have to get reacquainted with their families and make the transition back to civilian life after being away for a year,” said Jeff Keane, spokesman for the Army Reserve’s 94th Regional Readiness Command.
At a “welcome home, warrior”
ceremony sponsored by the RRC,
the five were reunited with
their families at the Barnes
Building in Boston, with each
given a flag in a wooden case, a
commemorative coin and a lapel
pin as tokens of appreciation
for their service. Lt. Col.
Ronald Huffman, Maj. Kimon
Nicolalieef, Master Sgt. Douglas
Chase and specialists Brian Case
and Jennifer Kelly all left home
last November and were deployed
to Camp Victory in Iraq, where
they tended to the spiritual
needs of soldiers from the
United States and elsewhere,
Keane said.
Submitted by Bob Coffey, Post 2
Sr. Vice Commander
071114
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State Legion honors four
from city
The State of Connecticut American Legion recently
recognized four Bristol residents with awards, the most ever in the
city's history. "Its an honor to have the State American recognize one
nominee for an award, let alone four," Commander of Seicheprey Post 2
Jay Meisinger said. "We never expected this."
According to Meisinger, legion posts from throughout the state submit
nominees for various awards. The awards recently given out by the state
branch of American Legion were for accomplishments during 2006.
The William J. Ponfret Plaque for the American Legion Coach of the Year
was awarded to Spec Monico for leading Bristol's American
baseball team to the 2006 AL State Tournament championship.
Bristol Firefighter Craig Henderson was named Firefighter
of the Year and awarded the John C. LaFontaine Plaque. Henderson was
also named Bristol Firefighter of the Year for 2006.
Bristol police Officer Garrie Dorman was the named
recipient of the State American Legion Award for Law Enforcement Officer
of the Year. Dorman was also honored as Bristol Police Officer of the
Year 2006.
Mayoral candidate Art Ward was named Legionnaire of the Year. "Mr.
Ward has gone above and beyond being a legion member," Meisinger said. A
member of the American Legion for the last 39 years, Art Ward said he is
very proud to be recognized with the highest award given by the State
American Legion.
By Jacqueline Manning, The Bristol Press
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From the CT Dept.
of Veterans' Affairs...
The CT Department
of Veterans' Affairs has recently begun a new mobile veterans'
service program called the "Vet Express". The Vet Express is a new
$75,000 van that is equipped with computers and printers to allow
DVA veteran service officers to initiate claims for veteran's
benefits. The service officers will also provide general
information and assistance. The van is handicapped-accessible and
has two work stations along with a waiting space. The Vet Express
visits convenient locations such as town halls, libraries, state
facilities and shopping centers to provide direct customer service
to the state's veterans. No appointment is needed to visit the van
at any of its scheduled locations.
In addition to a
monthly schedule of visits to towns throughout the state,
organizations can request the Vet Express for special events where
large groups of veterans may gather. Organizations interested in
scheduling the Vet Express for special events should contact the DVA
Community Affairs Office at
(860) 721-5826
or visit "The Vet Express" at
www.ct.gov/ctva
1st. Tuesday of every month from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
American Legion Hall, Post 2
22 Hooker Court, Bristol CT
070710
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