The Year in Review
Chapter 120 was busy and successful again in 2009, participating in several events and helping brother and sister veterans in the Greater Hartford area. Here are just some of the major events and contributions the Chapter and members have accomplished:

• Elections held for National Convention Delegates. • Led the Shad Derby/Armed Forces Day parade in Windsor CT • A third volunteer service officer position was filled • Chapter member Mike Daugherty represented VVA CT in Operation Gift Cards at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington DC for the second year in a row • Participated in Veterans’ Day at the Capitol • Donated $100 to Hartford Boy Scout Troop 105 for Flags at Soldier's Field in Hartford • Marched in Manchester Memorial Day parade, with Chapter President Paul Barry as keynote speaker • Participated in Flag Day ceremonies at the Elks Lodge in Windsor CT • Donated $1,500 for the Connecticut Stand Down • Members volunteered at Stand Down 2009, including two service officers • Mary Beaulieu gave keynote speech at the POW/MIA Day ceremony at Newington VAMC • Chapter 120 celebrated 25 years at LeRenaissance in East Windsor CT • Chapter newsletter received VVA e-Newsletter of the Year award • Intrepid tour in NYC • Marched in Connecticut Veterans' Day Parade, Hartford • Participated in Veterans’ Day ceremony at the Manchester Memorial Hospital • Chapter adopted Marine Cpl. Michael Gero, and donated 20 pairs of mechanics gloves to his unit in Iraq • Sponsored successful 23rd annual Christmas Dinner Dance • Participated in ceremony for PFC Thomas J. Blanchard at Colonel Gates Cemetery • Decorated Christmas trees at Rocky Hill Veterans' Home and Health Care Center • Members attended the “Wreaths Across America” ceremonies at Colonel Gates and the State Veterans' Cemeteries, and the Connecticut Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Coventry

We lost a dear friend of Chapter 120, Mary Neligon. When the Chapter was young and growing, Mary was there to support us. Thank you, Mary, and May God Bless you!

And on Veterans’ Day, we lost another dear friend, Life member Willie E. McCarthy. He will always be remembered. God Bless you, “Willie”!

23rd Annual Dinner Dance Successful
Chapter 120’s annual dinner dance was again a successful fundraising event, as well as an enjoyable time for all. The food was delicious, the music was inspiring, and of course, being with friends, family and our brothers and sisters was the best of all. A report of proceeds from the event will be available at the January membership meeting.

During the Chapter event, Chapter members were called up to the front of the hall to celebrate their many accomplishments, show their pride in our organization and give a toast to Chapter 120. Bill Chiodo gave the toast while members raised their glasses in unison.

Member of the Year
Michael Daugherty was chosen as Member of the Year during the Chapter’s Dinner Dance on Saturday, December 5th. Mike has contributed so much this past year, especially in representing Chapter 120 and the VVA State Council at the past two Operation Gift Card events at Walter Reed and Bethesda military hospitals. Mike has also actively participated in many Chapter events and serves on the Board of Directors. Congratulations Mike!

Appreciation Award
Nancy Rousselle was selected to receive the annual Appreciation Award at the Chapter Dinner Dance. Nancy has done so much for the Chapter, developing a Chapter history slide show that ran during our 25th Anniversary Dance, photographically recording the Chapter’s other activities such as our trip to the USS Intrepid. And so many times, has provided photos that were published in the Chapter newsletter (the editor especially Thanks you for that). Congratulations, Nancy!

Decorating the Tree
Members of Chapter 120 decorated the Christmas tree at the Rocky Hill Veterans’ Home cafeteria in the morning of December 5. After briefly admiring their work, they then decorated the tree at the new Sgt. John L. Levitow Veterans’ Health Center and greeted the patients there.

Chapter 120 members decorated the Christmas tree in the new Sgt. John L. Levitow Veterans’ Health Center

Happy Birthday, Brother Tom
Chapter 120 members gathered at the gravesite of USMC PFC Thomas Blanchard to remember their brother and to celebrate what would have been his 60th birthday – December 5th. This marks the third year that Chapter 120 has honored PFC Blanchard, who was the youngest Connecticut soldier to die in the Vietnam War. At the end of the brief ceremony in bone-chilling weather, all members came to attention and gave their brother a proper salute. Until next year, Brother.

Chapter 120 and Elks Partner in Christmas Giving
Chapter 120 and the Hartford Elks donated a total of $700 for Christmas gifts to 14 children of needy veterans during the Holiday. Chapter AVVA members Dot Barry, Mary Beaulieu and Glenda Doughtie shopped for all the children’s gifts which were then gift-wrapped by students at the East Hartford Mayberry School. The Hartford Vet Center provided the names, ages and gender of the children so the right gifts could go to each child.

Our Marine Returns Soon
Cpl. Michael Gero, our adopted Marine who deployed to Iraq in September, will soon be returning to the U.S. and his home state. He has received official confirmation that he will be heading back to the US the 1st week in January 2010.

“We are not sure when he'll be back in Connecticut but as long as he's back in the US, we’re okay. Now, I can enjoy the holidays”, Cpl. Gero’s grandmother Nancy Rousselle said.

Chapter Sends Appreciation to 1st Infantry Soldier’s Service
Chapter 120 sent a letter to PFC Ian Woolfenden, thanking him for his service in the US Army 1st Infantry Division. PFC Woolfenden, son of Chris Woolfenden, is serving in Iraq.

Chapter Life member John Siemer, who works with PFC Woolfenden's father and became aware of Mr. Woolfenden's son in Iraq, was instrumental in writing the letter of appreciation.

Specialist Akif Mamedov (Team leader) and PFC Ian Woolfenden (at right)

Wreaths Across America in Connecticut
On December 12, thousands of wreaths were laid at soldiers’ graves in thirty-five locations throughout Connecticut. The ceremonies in Connecticut coincided with 150,000 wreaths laid throughout the nation as part of the Wreaths Across America program.

At the transfer point in Putnam CT, Fabiola Cutler (the newsletter editor’s mother) helps to greet the Wreaths Across America motorcycle escort, with a member of the Combat Vets Association.

A sweet bit of home sent to Iraq
Thousands of homemade Christmas cookies are making their way to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan this week, thanks to the helping hands of more than 140 volunteers who gathered Dec. 6 at South Congregational Church in East Hartford for a cookie drive sponsored by the Glastonbury Pfau-Smyk VFW Post 7659. See A sweet bit of home

 

Connecticut State Council and Region 1 Meetings The Connecticut State Council meeting will be held Sunday, January 17, 2010 at 9am at 196 West Street, Rocky Hill CT. VVA Region 1 (New England) will hold a one-day conference in Bennington VT on May 3, 2010. There will also be an advanced training session for accredited service officers during that day in Bennington. Rich Levesque will hold the training session. Veteran's Day at the Capitol Veteran’s Day at the Capitol has been confirmed for Tuesday, February 23, 2010 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM in Room 2A in the CT Legislative Office Building. We hope have a number of veterans testify.

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A veteran - whether active duty, retired, or national guard or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America," for an amount of "up to and including my life." That is honor, and there are "way too many" people in this country who no longer understand it.