Legionnaires from Bantam post 44, Litchfield Post 27, and the Marine Corp League hold a deceased veteran’s burial Flag outspread as a tribute is read, prayers are offered, three volleys fired by Post 44’s Firing Squad, Taps sounded and the National Anthem played
during Ceremonies at the Bantam All Wars Memorial on the first Saturday of every month.
The Veteran of the Month Program sponsored by the Tyler-Seward-Kubish Post 44 of Bantam was created as a direct result of fulfilling a need for an American Flag at the old Bantam Veteran’s Monument when the current flag was severely weather damaged and a new flag was not available from the flag factory. Past Post Commander Arthur G. Shaw offered the use of his late father’s burial flag (the Flag of WW I Army Private Benjamin A. Shaw) as an interim replacement until a new flag could be obtained. Post Sgt. at Arms Francis Fabbri accepted Shaw’s offer and hoisted Private Shaw’s Flag.
Subsequent discussions between the two, other Post members, and families of deceased veterans, revealed that there was a strong feeling that deceased veterans should be honored, and use of their burial Flag was an ideal medium to affect the tribute. The first honoring by Post 44 took place in October 1989 and the first Honoree was WW II Navy veteran Allan O’Dell of Bantam.
Past Department Commander Arthur G. St. John was named Coordinator of the Program and shortly thereafter developed the format and ceremony that is in use today. He spearheaded the effort that resulted in the 1993 American Legion National Convention adopting the Veteran of the Month as a National Americanism Program. Post 44 and St. John were awarded the Freedom Foundation at Valley Forge’s highest honor, the George Washington Honor Medal for their efforts on the Veteran of the Month Program and the building of the All Wars Memorial in Bantam. Both the sons and Daughters of the American Revolution also extended Medals of Honor to St. John, Shaw and Fabbri.
Since its inception in 1989, honoring ceremonies have been held at the All Wars Memorial on the first Saturday of each month except for a half dozen occasions when severe weather forced the ceremonies to be held indoors at the Bantam Borough Hall. The June 2004 honoring will mark the 175th consecutive month that Post 44 has honored a deceased veteran. The program is currently conducted by many of the American Legion’s 15,000 posts throughout the country and in Connecticut Legion Posts in Thomaston, Winsted, Norwalk and Fairfield currently conduct programs as well as VFW Post 9086 in Torrington.
Honoring ceremonies include a reading of a tribute covering the Honoree’s life history with special emphasis on his or her service in the Armed Forces of the United States. Honorees have included those who served in the Revolutionary War, the Banana War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, the Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf war and veterans who served in the peace time armed forces. “We encourage families to honor their deceased loved ones who served in the Armed forces,” stated Post Commander Terrence McGurk, “especially at this time when our nation’s troops are serving throughout the world on various missions. Remembering the service of those who have served and have since died becomes more important as more and more of our young citizens close to home are serving on these missions.”
The Post schedules honorings on a first come, first scheduled basis. The Veteran of the Month program honors deceased veterans, those POW’s and MIA’s still unaccounted for and certain Merchant Mariners who served in battle areas during World II. If the deceased‘ burial flag is not available, the Post will provide a flag for the honoring service. Honorees do not have to be residents of Bantam. Scheduling of honoring ceremonies are scheduled on a first received, first scheduled basis. To honor a deceased veteran, contact Fletcher Cooper at 860-567-5867, Terrence McGurk at 860-567-9386 or Arthur G. St. John at 860-567-0607.