LONDONDERRY SENIOR CENTER CELEBRATES THOSE WHO SERVED

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November 12, 2009

'My eyes have seen the glory ...'

By Suzanne Laurent

LONDONDERRY — The Londonderry Senior Center was all decked out in red, white and blue Monday in honor of Veterans Day as guests were entertained with patriotic music by the 3G's choral group led by Evelyn Blier and accompanied by Carol Nugent on the organ.

During the celebration, veterans from each military branch were given a certificate of recognition from Sara Landry, senior center director. Some veterans spoke of their time in the service, including Bonnie Roberts, who served as a Yeomen Chief Petty Officer in the Navy, and Pat Patterson who served in the Air Force from 1948 to 1976 during the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War.

"I was a 'triple-threat' pilot and went to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam in the early 1960's," Patterson said.

"I loved every minute of it. If I was young enough, I'd do it all again."

Norman Bilodeau, who joined the Marines in 1956 said that "freedom comes at a high cost."

"Countless men and women purchased that freedom for us, and some paid the ultimate price."

U.S. Marine Corps veteran Al Peters brought a scrapbook of photos taken during World War II to share with the other guests. Peters, just out of high school in Franklin, joined the Marines at the tender age of 19 and served three years overseas as a paratrooper in the 509th Parachute Battalion.

"A fellow soldier from Pennsylvania got a camera off of one of the Germans, and he kept photographing everything," Peters recalled.

"He told me that if he survived he would send me the photos."

Two years after the war ended, Peters received a large packet filled with many photos that he put into the album.

One was of his battalion covered with white bedsheets.

"We were at the Battle of the Bulge and in the snow," Peters said.

"We didn't have snow camouflage, so we got the sheets from the villagers and cut holes to put our heads through."

The Veterans Day event was coordinated by Elaine Peters and Lucille Doerr. Rep. Al Baldasaro, R-Londonderry, a Marine veteran from the Desert Storm, said that those left at home during wartime — especially the spouses — were the ones who should be thanked.

Along those lines, Doerr and Landry passed out stars that had been cut from retired flags to all present. Included with the star was little message thanking the recipient for sharing a loved one who gave service to the country.

Londonderry's American Legion Post No. 27 will hold its Veterans Day parade on Saturday, Nov. 14 beginning at 10 a.m. from Londonderry High School to the Town Common where Maj. Dan Tamburello will be the guest speaker.