Windham County Observer

Veterans Post And Auxiliary Install Officers For 1935

Commander John Buckley Inducted Into Office At Impressive Exercises. Mrs. Barry to Head Albert J. Breault Auxiliary.

John H. Buckley of Chapman Street was installed as commander of Albert J. Breault Post, No. 1523, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Mrs. David Barry of Dayville was installed as president of the Women's Auxiliary at impressive exercises held Saturday night at St. Jean's Hall on Providence Street. Approximately 200 attended the installation and a dinner which preceded it.

National, State and local V. F. W. figures attended the exercises as well as a number of Putnam officials, including Captain of Police and Mrs. Harry Wallen; Fire Chief and Mrs. Walter A. Wheaton, Sr.; Elzear Guerin, assistant fire chief; Charles Rhoades, commander of the Anselm Mayotte Post, American Legion, and Adjuteur Benoit, commander of the Spanish War Veterans.

Dinner was served at 7:30 p. m. The menu consisted of soup, roast beef, peas, mashed potatoes, squash, celery, pickles, rolls, cake and coffee.

The women's officers were installed by Past Department President of the Auxiliary Mrs. Katherine Dibble of Meriden. She was assisted by Junior Vice Department President Mrs. Mary Frost of New Britain, who acted as conductress. Following the induction, gifts were presented to the installing officer, to Mrs. Eva Roy, retiring secretary, Mrs. Mabel Farrell of Pomfret, treasurer, and Mrs. David Barry, who succeeds herself as president of the Auxiliary. All gifts were given because of excellent service during the auxiliary's successful first year of existence.

The installing officer for the Albert J. Breault Post officers was Past Department Commander William P. Dibble of Meriden, who was assisted by Senior Vice Department Commander Raymond Frost of New Britain, officer-of-the-day. Past Commander Harry Hughes of the Albert J. Breault Post was presented his past commander's badge by Junior Vice Department Commander John M. Breen of Hartford.

Both the officers of the post and auxiliary received ovations from the gathering as each was installed into office. Following the ritual, there was a program of speaking by the guests of honor from Putnam and vicinity, in addition to that by the State V. F. W. officials.

National Inspector General James J. Lee was the principal speaker of the evening. He lauded the work of the National V. F. W. in general and that of the Putnam post and auxiliary in particular. He mentioned the Connecticut Cottage at the V. F. W. home for widows and orphans at Eaton Rapids, Mich., and the other excellent philanthropic work conducted by the post. He pleaded for a New Deal for the veteran and outlined the national program of the post.

Among the guests were the following, many of whom gave interesting talks: Department Conductress Rose Goodwin; Department Chaplain Ella Brennan; Norwich Auxiliary President Rose Graham; Dorothy Demange, president of the Plainfield Auxiliary and Department Historian; Emma Kavanagh, member of the hospital committee; John M. Dowe of Danielson, candidate for Congressman from this district; Past Department President Mrs. Katherine Dibble; Junior Vice Department President Mrs. Mary Frost; James J. Lee; Past Department Commander William Dibble; Senior Vice Department Commander Raymond Frost; Junior Vice Department Commander John M. Breen of Hartford; John Keenan of Danielson of the Council of Administration; Fred J. Gagnon, commander of the Woonsocket, R. I. post; Irwin Miller, commander of the Danielson post; William Roberge, commander of the Plainfield post; Cameron Macdonald, County Council Commissioner.

Leo L. Jacques acted as master of ceremonies. Dancing followed the speaking program.

The following auxiliary officers were installed: President, Mrs. Agnes Barry; senior vice-president, Mrs. Alice Forcier; junior vice-president, Mrs. Rose Lannon; treasurer, Mrs. Mabel Farrell; chaplain, Mrs. Orana Girard; conductress, Mrs. Flora LeClair; guard, Mrs. Sedonia Burke; trustee for 18 months, Mrs. Ruth Grinsell; secretary, Mrs. Louise Simonzi; patriotic instructor, Mrs. Ruth Grinsell; historian, Mrs. Blanche Lussier; color bearers, Mrs. Catherine Bernier, Mrs. Rose Durand, Mrs. Alice Bernier, Mrs. Antoinette Latour; Mrs. Mabel Farrell of Abington, delegate for two years to the Fourth District County Council; Mrs. Rose Durand, alternate.

Post officers installed were the following: Commander, John Buckley; senior vice-commander, Antonio Forcier; junior vice-commander, Edward Trevena; chaplain, Edward Farrell; officer of the day, Chester Kitson; quartermaster, John Simonzi; delegate to the Fourth District County Council, to serve two years, David Barry; adjutant, Iscah K. McNally; patriotic instructor, Albert E. Day; historian, Robert Allard; guard, Fred Bernier; color bearers, Frank LeClair, Harry Hughes.