11 December 2005
Steve Wentzell, Frank Harmon and Ed Bloom participated in the annual Christmas visit to the Veterans Hospital in Bedford MA along with members of other posts of the American Legion.  They visited wards and distributed pre-paid phone cards, "canteen books" and refreshments to the veterans. They also engaged in conversation with those who were able to.  It was again a sobering reminder of the sacrifices that these men have made in their service to our nation.

11 November 2005

Flag Retirement Ceremony at the Ayer Gun and Sportsman Club

24 September 2005

Dave Sawyer and Frank Harmon man the American Legion Table at the Nashoba Valley Hospital Health Fair in Ayer. We provided Flag Etiquette booklets, small US flags and collected unserviceable US flags.

Installation - September 13, 2005

Picture courtesy of The Public Spirit, Photographer - John Love
Stuart Williams, Milton Lashus, Paul Boisseau, Walter Forest, Gene Downing,  Ralph Winslow, Ian Meisner
Douglas Friedrich, David Sawyer, Steve Wentzell, Frank Harmon, Charlie Lewis

Independence Day Parade
 2 July 2005
Ayer, MA

Memorial Day Parade
28 May 2005
Ayer, MA

The following newspaper article appeared in The Public Spirit, Ayer, MA on 27 May 2005
Memorial Day Observances

"AYER -- The town's Memorial Day observances will be held Saturday, May 28.

They will include veterans of America's past wars, many presently serving their country, and some who may be serving in the future.

Grand marshal for the parade is 1st Sgt. Norman Dubois, of Ayer. Dubois is a member of the 110th Maintenance Support Company of the Massachusetts Army National Guard. With his unit he served for several months in Iraq.

Among the invited guests is Lt. Col. Anthony Kanellis, serving his last days as commander of the Devens Reserve Forces Training Area before he is assigned elsewhere.

The observances will include a color guard drawn from five armed forces: the U.S. Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard.

Setting the cadence for the parade will be the 94th Army Band, conducted by Warrant Officer Charles Emery.

Parade marshal this year is James Lucchesi. He is past commander of the Joseph M. Connors American Legion Post 139 in Ayer, the Legion's past subdistrict commander for Middlesex County, and an Army veteran with service in the Vietnam War.

Legion post Commander Frank Harmon has organized this year's observances. The legion will host this year's observances once again.

Harmon will present opening remarks at the Memorial Day observance in front of Town Hall.

Post chaplain Stephen Wentzell will speak the invocation.

Invited as a special guest is Milton Lashus, who is commander of the Department of Massachusetts of the American Legion.

Veterans from the Groton Legion post under Commander David Elliott will join the veterans of Ayer's post.

The Legion's Middlesex County Commander Robert Johnson is also expected.

Participating in the observances also as invited guests will be Gold Star Mother Zelda Moore and Gold Star Wives Rose Brennan and Suellen Kadlewicz.

In uniform, students in Ayer High School's Leadership Education Program will join the line of march with one of their advisers, Steve Tulli.

Some of these students have as their ambition seeking a career in the military.

In the program, they have learned about military history and tradition, practiced marching drills, and had their own color guard take part in ceremonies and parades around the region.

Other observance participants include state Sen. Pamela Resor, D-Acton, Rep. Robert Hargraves, R-Groton and the five Ayer selectmen -- all joining the march.

Members of the Fire Department will also be marching with Chief Paul Fillebrown.

They will be joined by units of Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Brownies and Little League.

The Fire Department ambulance will bring up the rear, just in front of a police unit.

A Police Department escort will lead the parade as it steps off at 10 a.m. from its assembly point on Bishop Road. The march takes the participants down Park Street to Main Street and along Main Street to Town Hall for an observance at the site of war memorial markers.

Reforming, the marchers continue over the bridge onto East Main Street and take the turn onto School Street beside the Ayer District Court building. At the other end of School Street they form into units side by side at Pirone Park.

Ceremonies at the park include a memorial service for departed Navy veterans.

The 94th Army Band's performance of a military songs medley will be another highlight of the park observance.

At parade's end, participants will enjoy a collation at the park, the repast underwritten by Phil Berry of the Ayer Business Alliance.

Before the day's observances, the Legion post will replace flags at veterans' graves.

On Saturday, May 28, the post will assemble at Woodlawn Cemetery at 8:30 a.m. for a memorial service, then reassemble at St. Mary's Cemetery on Bishop Road at 9 a.m. for a second memorial service.

Post members will then be on hand for the assembling of parade participants, to march and to ride in cars along the parade route.

-- C. David Gordon"

We thank the Public Spirit for their continued support of Legion activities.

Commander Harmon with members of the Post on 26 May 2005 at Woodlawn Cemetery, Ayer, MA.

Those of us who can meet once a month for lunch at a local restaurant.

Legion Lunch Bunch at Piccolino's in Shirley, MA 5 April 2005
(r) Charlie Lewis, Ian Meisner & Dave Sawyer
(f) Frank Harmon, Steve Wentzell & Paul Boisseau

Our Texas Hold Em Scholarship Tournament on 1 May 2005 was a success and that allowed us to fully fund all of the scholarships awarded this year.  Thanks to Steve Wentzell for the time and effort he put in (including his buy backs) that insured its success.

6 February 2005

Commander Frank Harmon and Ian Meisner attended this remembrance service.
 

Family Photo 2009