The Peterborough Rotary Club recently hosted Phyllis Gagnon, Daughters of the American Revolution Service for Veterans Committee Vice-Chair, Northeast Division. Gagnon is also the 2015 State Winner of the New Hampshire Daughters of the American Revolution Veteran Volunteer Award.
At the group’s Oct. 24 meeting in Peterborough, Gagnon shared ideas and information about how the Club can honor military veterans.
As DAR is a genealogical service society, Gagnon began her presentation with “service for veterans; it’s in our blood.” She reviewed the mission of the DAR Service for Veterans Committee which is to sponsor awards for veteran volunteers, youth volunteers and DAR veteran volunteers; honor deceased veterans; honor living veterans; and support the VA hospitals.
Gagnon highlighted volunteer hours dedicated to veterans’ causes, which, in 2015 totaled more than 5,000. She said that it is important to establish “a tradition and an understanding of the sacredness of honoring our veterans.”
Gagnon reminded listeners that partnering with other established veteran organizations can be a win-win. Some groups mentioned were Wreaths Across America, VetFlix, One Warrior Won, Veterans Count, and Harbor Homes. Volunteers working with these groups honor veterans by participating in parades, laying wreaths and preserving veteran gravesites. They also sponsor a variety of fundraising events and forums.
In particular, the speaker focused on the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War. In 2013, the Department of Defense established a 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemorative Commission, a 10-year endeavor. The DOD has asked non-profit and civic groups across the country to become partners – a commitment requiring that two “Welcome Home Vietnam Veteran” events be held per year. Gagnon reflected on the initial welcome home for these veterans, who were less than enthusiastic. “It’s not an easy thing for them because they’ve never been honored,” Gagnon said. It’s critical that they “come forward and receive our thanks and appreciation,” Gagnon said.
Gagnon encouraged attendees to view the New Hampshire DAR’s Moving Wall Memorial, featuring the names of each military member killed in action in Vietnam, which will be on display the week of Nov.7 at the New Hampshire Veteran’s Hospital. She also suggested that they visit the NH Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen, where the new DAR’s Revolutionary War Memorial stands as a tribute to veterans of our Nation’s first conflict.
Gagnon challenged the Peterborough Rotary Club to partner with some of the well-established groups that support and honor veterans, and she distributed information about Veterans Count, a non-profit veterans outreach of Easter Seals. She also provided the Veterans Count “Thank You Veteran” windshield cards, which provide an anonymous way to acknowledge the military service of those whose parked vehicle displays a Veterans’ license plate.
Peterborough Rotary is part of an International group of service‐minded business and professional leaders devoted to helping area youth through programs such as Operation Santa, scholarships, Camp Quest, polio eradication, youth exchange, and the ConVal Interact Club. The Club meets Mondays at Noon at the Unitarian Church in downtown Peterborough. New members are welcome. For more information go to peterbororotary.org.