Story and photo by Maren Schober

 

On, Dec. 9th, I was at the Waterford VFW Post # 6573 at the kind invitation

of Gail Gagnier-Malloy, President of the VFW auxiliary and a 40 – year

member. When I walked inside and glanced around I had to catch my

breath. The lounge room was aglow with twinkling lights, greens with red

bows, ‘snow’ overlayed on counter tops and two tall angles at the center

seaming said, ‘Welcome’!

 

“Who made this beautiful display?” I inquire. “This took a lot of work.”

 

Gail replies, “I made it, Yes, it took a long time.”

 

Gail, Commander Arthur Gagnier, veterans and members of the ladies

auxiliary are on hand to pay special honor to Thomas Moysey of

East Lyme for his show of patriotism to his country.

 

Gail shares, “Tom is a big donator to the VFW, Whatever we need he

often donates. ‘Just tell me what you need,’ he says to me. He is so generous

and a faithful member here.”

 

Diane Sullivan, Chaplain of the auxiliary, makes the presentation of

the Certifi cate of Citizenship to Tom Moysey. Tom is surprised and

pleased.

 

Tom tells me, “I was in the Navy for 10 years, I was in Granada and

Kuwait. I was also in the Gulf War in 1991. The Army Reserve took me

right in when they found out I could drive a tractor trailer! They told me

they needed people who could drive the tractor trailers. I hauled petroleum

that was used as fuel for helicopters.” Other veterans on hand share some

war experiences with me.

 

Jan Pierre Pecora of Chinatown, Manhattan relates

a surprising story. “I was in the Vietnam War 1967-1968. It was a

very hot dry day in Vietnam and I was sitting down writing a letter. I looked

up and saw a familiar man walking towards me. It was my older brother,

Arthur who was a First Lieutenant. I had no idea he was in Vietnam!”

 

“I’ve come to get you out,” he told me.

 

“Two brothers do not have to serve in the military at the same time,”

Jan continues. “I decided to stay. Unfortunately, my brother did not

make it out and he died during the war.”

 

I chat with Richard M. Watrous, Sr. of East Lyme. “The only good

thing I can think of about the Vietnam War is that I got out in one piece!”

Richard states. “I also learned the Vietnamese language before I

was sent overseas. I had extensive language training for three months

in California. In Vietnam I used my knowledge of the language to interrogate

prisoners and read Vietnamese materials.”

 

William Barnard a WWII veteran of Niantic relates, “I was

drafted into the Army July 18, 1945. I am now writing my memoirs about

my experiences.”

 

The VFW Auxilary has 65 members. Tonight I meet Gail Malloy,

President, Carol Perkins-Wilson, Sr. VP, Diane Sullivan, Chaplain,

and Loreen Wilson-Lockwood, Trustee. Auxiliary members work

hard raising funds for various projects to help veterans and their families.

 

The Veteran’s Brick Program was a special project. A brick Path of Honor

was put in place at the Memorial Green in Waterford. The bricks

were engraved with the Veteran’s name, rank, branch of service and

career specialty.

 

New members of the VFW and auxilary are welcome. If interested

please E mail Carol Wilson at okaykay8@aol.com.