Category: WWII

A conflict that affected the entire world and continues to do so.

Memorial Day – Saying Goodbye to New Ipswich WWII veterans

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Memorial to Edward Aho
Since 1977 New Ipswich residents Peter and Bonny Jo Aho would host a coffee and nisu hospitality tent for veterans participating in the morning Memorial Day Parade.

New Ipswich holds its Memorial Day observance a week before the official date. As other small towns in the Monadnock region, staggering the date allows the towns to book marching bands, color guard and rifle squad.

Each year there is a reading of the honor roll mentioning Veterans that died since the last Memorial Day. This year Peter’s dad Edward Aho was on the list.

New Ipswich Memorial Day - 2013

With some coaxing our friend Bob Grippardi and his wife had convinced Bob’s dad Peter(left) to move from Florida to New Ipswich to live with them. They renovated their home to accommodate him. Peter was also honored today.

Peter and Edward first met in 2013 at the morning coffee, another sunny May morning.
Edward Aho - WWII Veteran
Edward had attended every Memorial day except one. He will be missed.
Edward I. AhoEdward served in the Navy in WWII

New Ipswich WWII Veterans

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Veterans Day is observed on the 11th day of the 11th month
This is an album prepared by Hazel Moore for the New Ipswich Historical Society
Additional information may be found on their website

https://www.flickr.com/photos/poltracknet/15259207041/in/set-72157649179560902/player/

If you have information about the men and women in this album I encourage you to enter comments to the Flickr Album (click on any photo to view in full screen)

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Stamford’s World War II Service Roll: "A Reconstructed List of Names"

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I was delighted to read an article in the Stamford Advocate about efforts of Ron Marcus and Dan Burke who spent four years collecting over 10,000 names of Stamford residents who served in WWII.

The Service Roll was demolished and the individual markers were bulldozed into oblivion. I was aware of the Service and proud to see my dad and relatives on the markers. However they missed my Aunt Adeline who served in the Waves.

Dan Burke is known to our family and he runs the very popular Facebook group If you’re really from Stamford (CT) you’d know ….

The UPDATED list is available on Stamford Historical Society Website
And it finally includes my Aunt Adeline

Poltrack Albert John 7 Warren St. USCG X X
Poltrack Adeline O. 16 Willow St. WAVE X X
Poltrack Anthony Dennis 16 Willow St. USA X X
Poltrack Anthony Stanley 6 Rugby St, USA X X X
Poltrack Edward Philip 16 Willow St. USA X X
Poltrack Francis John Mark 16 Willow St. USMC X X
Poltrack Frank 192 Ludlow St. USN X X
Poltrack Henry Benedict 9 Rugby St. USA X X vol 9 #19 p19
Poltrack John Adam 34 Lockwood Ave. USAAC X X
Poltrack Joseph Marion 9 Rugby St. USN X X X
Poltrack Thomas Francis 34 Lockwood Ave. USA X X vol 9 #20 p 18

Stamford Service Roll in 1943

My Dad (second POLTRACK on list)
An oversight, they didn’t list my Aunt Adeline

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Battle for the Airfield

I attended a WWII reenactment at the Collings Foundation in Stow, MA. This was my first visit to this beautiful museum. The folks doing the reenactment were very knowledgeable about their roles. As a post war boomer, and the son and nephew of WWII veterans I want to learn all I can about this time in history. If you go, bring ear protection!

In this battle the Allies won
Lots of smoke and gunfire and nobody died!

Not all the locals are happy about the foundation’s plan to build a museum on the property. One of their arguments was that the foundation was not “educational” which is patently untrue. Judging by the size of the crowds I expect crowded roads was more of an issue. Get over it folks! Those that don’t know history are doomed to repeat it.


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New Ipswich Memorial Day – 2013

We celebrate Memorial Day the Sunday before the official holiday. As in years past there is a morning ceremony at the Smithville Cemetery followed in the afternoon with a much larger parade.

Here are some photos of the both events.

Starting with Coffee and Nisu at Peter and BJ Aho’s home. In attendance WWII veterans Eddy Aho and Peter Grippardi

Then to Smithville Cemetery.

Decorating the Souhegan river and 21 gun salute

Mascenic Band member Ariana Holmes and two girls decorate the waters of the Souhegan to honor those lost at sea.

World War II veterans, Eddie Aho, Peter Grippardi and Francis Dorn

Afternoon Ceremony (Central Cemetery and Veterans Monument)

Veterans Day 2012

Thanks Veterans for your service to our country. I served in the Navy from 1968 to 1972. I was stationed at Ream Field in  Imperial Beach, CA and Moffett Field in Mountain View, CA.

I deployed on the USS BonHomme Richard CVA-31 carrier in 1970 to “Yankee Station” as  a Avionics Technician (ATN2), working on the navigation and communication gear for HC-1 Detachment 3 (Sea-Air Rescue helicopters).

 If you use Google+ please check out my Veterans Day Event, and upload your own photos and stories.

https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf