Kids & Family

Help Hamden WWII Vets Get To DC

Three groups are banding together to raise money to fund trips for Hamden WWII vets to go to Washington DC to see the National World War II Memorial.

 

It's been 67 years since World War II ended, and it took almost that long for a memorial to be errected in Washington DC to honor those who served.

The National World War II Memorial was dedicated on May 29, 2004, and since then the American Warrior Fund has worked to provide trips for every World War II vet to D.C. to see the memorial.

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"In the town of Hamden we have 700 World War II vets left, and we are trying to get each and every one of them down there," said Fred McCarthy, a member of the American Legion Post 88.

Statewide, 831 WWII vets have taken the trip, but only 37 of those have been from Hamden, he said. 

Find out what's happening in Hamdenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"You can see there's a little bit of a disparity there," he said, since only a bit less than 9 percent of Hamden's WWII vets have made the trip. They are determined to see every Hamden vet have the opportunity to take the trip to Washington DC to visit the memorial, he said.

To accomplish their goal takes money, so three community groups -- the American Legion Post 88, the Governor's Foot Guard and the Hamden Elks #2224 -- are joining together to raise funds to help send Hamden's World War II veterans to their memorial in Washington, DC.

They'll be serving Pasta and Meatballs, along with good conversation and company, on Sunday, Oct. 14 fro 3 to 7 p.m. at the Hamden Elks Lodge #2224 at 175 School St. 

The suggested donation is $10. For tickets, email fred_mc@­comcast.­net


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