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New American Legion building dedicated

New London VFW Post 2732 Commander Tim Roberts, at right, American Legion Post 263 Commander Ron Gagnow, center, and American Legion Chaplain James Roberts cut the ribbon on a new pavilion and storage building next to the American Legion Post 263 headquarters in New London. The new building was donated by VFW Post 2732 and will be used for open-air events and storage. John Faucher photo

Veterans work together in New London

By John Faucher

Veteran organizations in the New London area have long shared a history of cooperation and goodwill towards one another.

More recently, those organizations banded together in support of the Veterans Memorial at Taft Park.

Monday, May 29, 2023 began yet another chapter of that commitment to all veterans.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2732 Commander Tim Roberts said he was humbled this Memorial Day, in the assembly of community members, fellow veterans and city officials during the dedication of a new 30-foot-by-64-foot storage building and pavilion located at the American Legion Post 263 headquarters.

The new building located alongside the Legion post’s existing headquarters at 840 East North Water St. is a gift from one veteran organization to another.

VFW Post 2732 had funds remaining from the sale of their former clubhouse and banquet hall located on Beckert Road in New London.

Roberts said, “We had that money just sitting in the bank for some time and we wanted to put it to work locally for our fellow veterans.”

That is when the group decided to build and donate the $75,000 pole shed and pavilion at the Legion headquarters.

On Monday, they also handed over the keys to the VFW’s M-37 vintage military vehicle to the American Legion Post 263.

“Today’s ceremony commemorates the passing of the building and vehicle keys between the VFW and American Legion,” said Roberts. “We would like to donate this building and vehicle to the American Legion to signify the brotherhood and sisterhood shared between veterans from all walks of life and service history.”

The ribbon cutting not only served as a reminder of their mission of remembrance, but of the commitment to serving veterans and the community, he said.

Members of the VFW, American Legion, AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and their respective Auxiliaries and community members shared a meal and held a social in the new pavilion following the ceremony.

A free fill offering produced $650 for the Old Glory Honor Flight.

VFW Post 2732 also contributed $10,000 to New London Area School Scholarships in the name of the VFW, and it contributed $20,000 to the Hortonville American Legion Post 55 towards a major project they are about to announce.

“We all share members, we all work for our country, our communities and our veterans and we wanted to keep it local,” said Roberts.

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