Veterans organization welcomes home soldiers; focuses on new mission
Written by The Huntington Herald
Tuesday, 31 January 2012 15:42
Two combat-wounded brothers were welcomed home recently by the Derby/Shelton American Veterans (AMVETS).
The AMVETS Post 43 held a welcome-home ceremony for Mario and Sergio Cano, of Seymour, at the Derby Memorial Veterans Building Dec. 31.
Both brothers, along with their father, who is a major in the National Guard, are members of the AMVETS post.
Mario and Sergio were presented with certificates of appreciation for their service to the nation and their sacrifice for freedom. Mario Cano has been discharged from the Army and is attending college to complete his degree.
Local veterans met Sergio Cano last year when they were making one of their monthly “Operation Gift Cards” visits to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center at Bethesda, Md. Sergio has returned to Walter Reed to recuperate from wounds received in combat.
In the last 15 months, Post 43 has recruited 14 Afghanistan and Iraqi War veterans and 31 other veterans, many who served in Vietnam. These new members will help support the new mission of Post 43, which is to inform and assist veterans of Iraq, Afghanistan and recent conflicts, and their families, according to Al Meadows, coordinator of the Operation Gift Cards project.
The AMVETS are the most inclusive of all the veterans organizations, without restrictions to place or time of service, Meadows said. Membership requires an honorable discharge.
For more information on helping wounded troops with Operation Gift Cards or for information on joining or assisting AMVETS Post 43, contact Al Meadows at al.meadows@snet.net or 203-929-3357 or visit the Facebook page of “CT AMVETS Post 43.”
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