The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-06-17

Walter Overton, local policeman,
was installed as state commander
Of the Disabled American Veterans,
at q banquet at The Elton Saturday
night the program marking the
close OF the three-day state con-
vention. Mrs. Alma Gohr, Of Mer-
iden, was installed as state COM
mander of the auxiliary.
Principal among the resolutions
adopted by the delegates was one
calling on the United States to
build up its defenseS sufficiently for
protection not only Of this country
but Of all North and South Amer
lea. Another resolution declared the
willingness Of the organization to
serve the country In any way neces-
sary, On recommendation OF the
legislative committee, the delegates
voted to present to the 1941 Gen.
eral Assembly bills providing for
tax exemptions for wives and Wild
ows Of disabled veterans, D. A. v.
representation on veterans funds,
and state financial aid for the D.
A. v. rehabilitation program.
National Defense
The problems of national defense
were described by Congressman j..
Joseph Smith In an address at the
banquet. The other principal speak
er was Major Thomas J. Bannigan,
Of the U. s. veterans hospital New
ington, Past State Commander John
j. Mulligan, chairman of the con-
vention committee, was the toast
master. Among the guests were
eight Gold Star mothers.
The United States, said Congress-
man Smith. should 60 ahead OH its
defense program with grim deter
mination, not being misled by
matchmaking" or attempts to stir
up dissension.
The nation needs men as well as
equipment, said Congressman
Smith. Serious consideration must
be given by Congress, he said, to
the proposal that peace-time con-
scription be adopted.
Seated at the head table were:
Past State Comdr. Ralph w.
Quigley, New Britain, Mayor Vim
cent A. scully and Mrs. sculiy.
Mrs. Antoinette Kolinsky, retiring
read OF tn auxiliary Fire Chief
Thomas J. Cavanaugh; Mrs. Alma
Gohr,I Of Meriden, new auxil-
larry commander; Dept Comdr.
Walter Overton: Rev. Roger B. +.
Anderson; Mrs. Margaret Smith,
OF West Haven, national execu-
tive committee man Col Parker,
Frank j. Green, secretary Of the
Chamber Of Commerce, Peter j.
Nugent of West Haven and Supt.
of Police william J. Roach.
Guests Introduced
Comdr. Mulligan called on the
following guests to take bows: Ru-
dolph Hennick, waterbury, state
commander Jewish War Veterans;
Edward Reilly, Bridgeport, state
commander, Veterans OF Foreign
Wars; John Fiegel, Meriden,
senior vice commander, American
Legion Frank Russo. Torrington,
state commander, italian Ameri-
can World War vetesans; Charles
Bunnell, state commander United
Spanish american War Veterans;
J. Peter Costigan, commander.
Corp. Coyle post, American Lee
gion; William Keaveney, COM
mander local post, D. A. W; Mrs.
Josephine Donahue, commander
local auxiliary, D. A. "; Donald
Bedoin. Meriden, Imperial Rodent,
Order Of Trench Rats: Frank 8.
Kline, Newington. national rehabil.
itation officer, d. A. w.; Michael
Giordano, president Veterans Coua-
Gil; Mrs. Margaret Smith. Edward
T. Buckingham. Bridgeport; Col.
william J. Shanahan, commander
YD Veterans association,
Other d. A. ". officers elected
we're: Senior vice commander,
Herman Poirer, Of Norwalk: first
junior vice commander, Edward
Nichols. Hamden; second junior
vice -comnander, william J Delan-
ey New Britain; treasurer, Rob-
ert williams, Milford: chaplain,
Charles Lundin, West Haven; Of