NewCanaanite.com recently received the following letter to the editor. Email editor@newcanaanite.com to have a letter published here.
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Dear Veterans,
I have lived in New Canaan for 70 years, am a WWII combat Veteran and I served in Germany. I’m a member of the New Canaan VFW.
Over the years, the VFW has been losing many of its members as each of us gets up in age. (I am 98 years old myself.) So I am asking the younger Veterans of New Canaan to give some thought to becoming a VFW member and carrying on the good work the VFW has been doing for so many years. I do understand that the young Vets are busy with kids, sports, and work but being a member doesn’t take up too much time and helps this great patriotic organization. (We meet in New Canaan 1x per month for one hour.)
In case you aren’t familiar with the good works the VFW provides for our New Canaan community, here are a few examples:
- Organizing the New Canaan Memorial Day Parade
- Placing American flags and Christmas wreaths on Veterans graves in all New Canaan cemeteries
- Organizing the Veterans Day Ceremony, speaker and refreshments
- Veterans plaques in the lobby of Town Hall
- Veterans banners on the lamp posts in town at Veterans Day
- Honor guard and assistance at veterans burials and wakes
- Assistance for veterans in distress, such as food and funds
- The ceremony at Lakeview cemetery on Memorial Day
- Presentations at the local public schools on Veterans Day
- Veteran discussion groups at St Lukes
- And much more for all the living and deceased veterans in New Canaan
You’ve served your country and I thank you for that sacrifice, now I would ask you to consider serving your town through the VFW.
If you do have an interest, you can contact our Commander, Mike McGlinn by phone or email: 203-962-1302/ michael@mcglinnins.com.
Thank you and God Bless you all.
Frank Gallo
My dear friend Frank. Beautifully written. I remember several years ago you were the Marshall in the Memorial Day parade. Proud. I suggest other lineage organizations connected to military like local chapter of NSDAR actively bond support align themselves with these loyal serving veteran’s. Close to 30 of my classmates drafted & served in Vietnam NCHS 65 & several are involved locally.
Frank, it’s an honor to know you. I extend my heartfelt gratitude for your years of dedicated service and your unwavering commitment to upholding cherished traditions that pay tribute to those who have safeguarded our freedom. Your contributions to our close-knit New Canaan community are deeply valued and greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Frank is truly remarkable – a WWII veteran who is still actively involved in his community.
I hope his heartfelt note motivates our younger veterans to get involved with the VFW. They are an amazing group and they do so much to honor and remember their fellow veterans and to serve our community, including funding the annual wreath laying and flag placing on the graves of New Canaan’s deceased veterans.
For those of you who are not veterans but would like to support the VFW financially, please donate via VFW Post 653’s donation site – https://vfwpost653.square.site/.
God bless Frank and VFW Post 653!
Frank,
Thank you for your service – to our nation and to our community. Your letter was inspiring, and I’m proud you’re part of what makes New Canaan great. God bless you.