Date: Fri 01-Oct-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: JAN

Quick Words:

VFW-100th-anniversary

Full Text:

Fund-Raiser Picnic Will Commemorate The VFW's 100th Year

BY JAN HOWARD

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 308 will hold a fund-raising picnic on

Saturday, October 2, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the national VFW.

The picnic will benefit disabled veterans and their families. Donation is $10

per person at the door.

The picnic will begin at 10 am with breakfast and continue to 6 pm at the post

at the intersection of Tinkerfield Road and Route 25. A wide variety of foods

will be served all day.

The president of the state VFW and other dignitaries have been invited to

attend.

The national VFW traces its roots to 1899 when veterans of the

Spanish-American War (1898) and the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902)

founded local organizations to secure rights and benefits for their service.

In Columbus, Ohio, they founded the American Veterans of Foreign Service, and

in Denver, Colo., they organized the Colorado Society, Army of the

Philippines.

In 1901, Philippine veterans in Altoona and Pittsburgh, Penn., started the

Philippine War Veterans, and in 1902, the American Veterans of the Philippine

and China Wars was formed in Philadelphia, Penn. In 1905, these three groups

merged with the American Veterans of Foreign Service, which in 1913 joined

with the Colorado Society of the Philippines and became the Army of the

Philippine-Cuba and Puerto Rico.

Their name was then changed to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United

States.

The local post was founded 60 years ago. On March 3, 1939, a gathering of

about 600 people, including residents, representatives of local organizations,

and delegations from other VFW posts, witnessed the formal institution of the

Charles Howard Peck, Sr, and Jr, Post No. 308, Veterans of Foreign Wars, at

the Edmond Town Hall gymnasium.

The post was named in honor of Dr Charles Howard Peck of Newtown, who was a

surgeon and leader during World War I, and his son, Charles Howard Peck, Jr,

who gave his life during that war.

Dr Charles Howard Peck, who died in 1927 at the age of 56, had a distinguished

career. As a medical student, he won outstanding honors. As a surgeon he was

chief of surgery at Roosevelt Hospital and was founder and first treasurer of

the American College of Surgeons. He was also elected to posts in the New York

State Medical Society, New York Academy of Medicine, and New York Surgical

Association.

He served his country as a reserve officer in 1915. In 1917, he organized the

Roosevelt-Mackay Unit that sailed for France in July, 1917, and became Base

Hospital No. 15. In September, 1917, Dr Peck was sent to the French front

where he did heroic work with French army surgeons. He received French

citations for his work with the French army and was made an honorary officer

of the Alpine Chausseurs Battalion, No. 68.

In July, 1918, in Washington, DC he rotated with Dr Charles H. Mayo as chief

of surgery of the United States armies in the Surgeon General's office. After

his discharge in 1919, he received the Distinguished Service Medal.

Charles Howard Peck, Jr, had graduated with honor from the Hill School in 1917

and passed his entrance examinations to Yale with distinction. Instead of

going to college, however, he enlisted in his father's regiment and was sent

overseas. He was soon promoted to the rank of sergeant and in early March,

1918, made the supreme sacrifice for his country.

The ceremonies on March 3, 1939 opened with a short concert by the band of

Walling Post, Danbury. Guests of honor included Mrs Charles H. Peck, widow of

Dr Peck and mother of Charles Howard Peck, Jr; her son, Dexter Peck; other

members of the Peck family; officials and prominent persons of Newtown; and

members of VFW posts in New Milford, Bridgeport, and Southbury.

Vice Commander Edward Reilly of Bridgeport opened the ceremony. John T.

Elliano of Bridgeport, a past department commander, served as mustering

officer, assisted by William P. Dibble of Meriden, department adjutant, and

John Dempsey of Derby, New Haven County commander.

The 26 recruits of the Newtown post were then conducted into the hall and

officers installed, as follows: Commander, Robert D. Fairchild; senior

vice-commander, Hubert Carey; junior vice-commander, Benjamin Ferris;

quartermaster, John T. McCarthy; officer of the day, James Crick; chaplain,

William Weiss; trustee for six months, Leslie Olmstead; trustee for 12 months,

G. Herbert Beers; trustee for 18 months, James Peck; post historian, Jerome P.

Jackson; adjutant, James Diamond; and delegates to the county council, Martin

Dodge and Arthur Smith, and alternates Charles Neilson and James Peck.

At the close of the program, Mr Fairchild was presented with a gavel, Bible,

and American flag. The benediction was given by Rev Paul A. Cullens.

Refreshments followed and the evening closed with dancing to music by Cole's

orchestra of Bridgeport.

The current officers of the Charles Howard Peck, Sr, and Jr, and Eric G.

Blantin VFW Post 308 include Commander David Peck; Senior Vice Commander

Rodger Sperling, Jr.; Junior Vice commander Lee Miller; and Quartermaster

Frank Furze.