The inaugural meeting of the Suffield Veterans Appreciation Committee (VAC) was held on February 16 via Zoom. First Selectman Mack, Selectman Kathie Harrington, Kris Lambert, Deputy Assessor Lisa Trase and Sue Mayne from Field of Flags were joined by members of the VFW Post 9544; Post Commander Bill Moryto, Adjutant Fritz King and member David Shute to discuss veteran services, care and expansion of Veterans Memorial Park, as well as planning for this year’s Memorial Day parade and program. Anyone interested in assisting in any of these areas, please contact the First Selectman’s office.
Municipal Veterans Representative Lisa Trase would like to remind any veteran who has served at least 90 days during wartime or has a service related disability, to please bring their DD-214 and a copy of their Veterans Administration disability decision letter to the Town Clerk’s Office to receive their $3,000 tax assessment credit. Veterans with disabilities will receive an increased credit based on their specific disability percentage.
When retired Marine Gunnery Sergeant Fritz King heard First Selectman Mack mention Suffield having approximately 600 veterans, he conceived an idea to capture their stories for future generations before they are lost to time. Fritz is currently interviewing local veterans for a book he is authoring; The Voices of Suffield Veterans.
Memorial Day Parade and program preparations have begun. Bill Moryto is conducting research to learn more about the thirty-one Suffield residents who have died in the service of our country. They are identified by a star next to their name on the veteran’s monument. Family members or friends with information about any of our fallen heroes are asked to contact Bill Moryto at suffield vfw9544@gmail.com.
The VAC is looking for a volunteer to coordinate a display of thirty-one flags for each of our fallen Suffield veterans on the Veterans Memorial Park for Memorial Day.
If you’re a veteran or know of a veteran in need of assistance, please contact Suffield Municipal Veterans Representative at 860-668-3866, Suffield Community Aid at 860-668-1986, or VFW Post 9544.