Suicide, domestic violence walkathon
- The Bristol Press
- 1 Oct 2024
- BRIAN M. JOHNSON @BRIANJOHNSONBP
BRISTOL — American Legion Post 209 is sponsoring a walkathon to raise awareness about suicide and domestic violence Oct. 12 at Rockwell Park.
The walkathon will be held, rain or shine, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Rockwell Park. Participants will register at the main entrance and then walk around the park. People will also be able to get life-saving information and hear from speakers.
American Legion Post 209 Commander Brian Avery said he helps organize this event every October.
“The reason why we do it in October is because October is the gateway to the holidays ad the start to depression,” he said. “It gives people who are suffering from depression a means to talk to people to help them get through their crises issues before they come to a head.”
Avery said there will be councilors from the Prudence Crandall Center and Saint Vincent DePaul to assist those who need to speak to someone about their issues.
“We can find help for those who are involved in toxic relationships and need to be removed from that situation,” he said. “We also have counselors there from the military to
support military personnel and veterans.”
Avery said the goal of the event is to “bring light into the darkness,” “break the chain of violence” and ask “what can we do to help?”
Jimmie Smith, from American Legion Post 209, said Post 209 has many objectives with the event.
“Working with our community, we focus on defining what domestic violence is and what it looks like,” he said. “St. Vincent DePaul Mission and the Prudence Crandall Center will provide options for help, literature and emergency phone numbers. During the event, we will also collect donations for families in need of relocation.”
American Legion Post 209 is also collecting items to help those in need at St. Vincent DePaul Mission and the Prudence Crandall Center. Items requested include hoodies, sweatshirts, socks, single serve snacks, paper plates, laundry soap, coffee, powdered creamer and sugar.
There will be two courses at the event on how to administer Narcan, which can revive someone who is overdosing. The courses will be at the Legion tent at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. The courses will last approximately 45 minutes.
“We recognize that the opioid crisis plays a role in domestic violence,” Smith said.
Smith added that Avery and Post 209 also continue to support the community through blood drives, Christmas with Santa, the Forestville Memorial Day Parade, Jukebox Bingo events, South Side Meat Market raffles and donations approved by the post’s executive committee and voted on by members.
Any veteran who is interested in becoming a member of American Legion Post 209 is encouraged to reach out via americanlegionpost209. com or to visit them at 355 Camp St.
Avery named outstanding commander of year
- The Bristol Press
- 16 Jul 2024
- BRIAN M. JOHNSON @BRIANJOHNSONBP
BRISTOL — Legion Post 209 Brian Avery was presented with the Louis E. Milinaro Plaque, which honors the American Legion Post Commander of the Year, this past Sunday at the American Legion Department of Connecticut’s annual convention.
According to the Department Awards Committee, the award is given to the commander who is chosen as the “most outstanding post commander of the year.”
Avery said that he was “very proud and honored” to be given the award out of the more than 210 American Legion posts in Connecticut. Avery said that there are too many people to thank individually, but he gave special thanks to Bruce Barton, Arthur, Paul and Bob Getz, Jimmie Smith and Victor Hagerman.
“It shows that all of the work that Post 209 has done this past year is recognized,” he said.
Avery shared a video of his acceptance speech on his personal Facebook page.
“I am deeply honored to receive the Commander of the Year award,” he said. “This award is not just a personal achievement, but a record of the collective efforts of Post 209.”
Avery said that Post 209 is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. What it has accomplished in that time, he said, is “truly unbelievable.”
“Reflecting on this past year, our post has achieved significant milestones,” he said. “We’ve expanded our community outreach programs, ensuring that our veterans receive the support they need and deserve. We’ve organized successful events like the Youth Fishing Derby, local blood drives, annual suicide and domestic violence awareness programs, the Four Chaplains ceremony and the rebeautification of Quinlan Park in Forestville.
“We have also partnered up with the Bristol Veterans Council and other Legion posts and veterans organizations to help sponsor and build a one-of-a-kind POW/ MIA memorial in Bristol.”
Recently, American Legion Post 209 led the renovations of Quinlan Park in Forestville, which now features a monument stone and a bell made in 1837 by Hartford’s Doolittle Clock and Bell Factory. The bell was donated to the Legion by the family of Frank Owsianko, of Forestville, who died in 1996. It was featured in the Forestville Parade for many years and is now named the Veterans Memorial Bell.
The new POW/MIA monument on Memorial Boulevard was led by the Bristol Veterans Council, for which Brian Avery is the vice chair. Additionally, Post 209 donated $3,000 toward supporting this project and provided the chair which is featured in the design.
The monument has a POW/MIA empty chair with memorial bricks around it. There are granite pillars surrounding it, representing each of the
branches of the military. A chain connects them, which represents the unity of the branches in having POW/ MIA soldiers brought home
and accounted for. There is also a nearby bench and a POW/MIA flag which flies along with the American flag at the monument site.
We would like to thank everybody involved in this project so far from all the people that donated money to the businesses like
Home Depot that donated the Bricks,
Al Pippin from Pippin Steel of building and installation of the the monument.
Doug Laforge for all your hard work with the crushed stone and brick and concrete pad and everything else you’ve done for this project,
Dan Bailey and his daughter for fixing and painting the Canon.
Bristol Park Department, Bob Lincoln and Doug Trillo and all his workers from cutting down trees to stumping the tree stumps
the cleaning leaves to digging around the monument. Picking up and securing the park benches and delivering the bricks. Together we can and will do amazing things.
It’s been a long road but we’re looking forward to phase two exciting things coming to Quinlan Park soon stay tuned.Quinlan Park improvements continue today on this cold rainy Friday with the help of the Bristol Park Department Bob Lincoln and Doug Trillo we continued working on improvements to the Forestville honor roll
The American Legion Post 209 in Forestville Connecticut continued to work on fix an error on two of the names that was misspelled decades ago on the Forestville Honor Roll.
The name of John Wazorko and William W Wazorko had been spelled as Warzorko which is the wrong spelling. We have now have this fixed the Forestville honor roll inside and out .
It’s been a long time coming for the Wazorko family but today is your day. I hope this helps honor your family’s sacrifice to this great country and to Forestville Connecticut.
A big thanks you Brian the painter ( sorry I forgot your last name) and all the workers to help fix the Forestville Honor Roll and all the other work that has been done to Quinlan Park in the last few weeks.
A list of things done in the last couple of weeks .
Tree cutting, stump removal ,power washing,painting and the things that’s going to happen in the future with helping us fix the lights that are in Quinlan Park. Post 209 replaced the LED lights bulbs in the fixtures and both light up again also purchased two pieces of 4×8 x3/4 maple plywood for the back of the Forestville honor roll.
The commitment that The Park Department has showed to this project has been outstanding and I personally want to say thank you to each and every one of you.
The honor roll looks absolutely gorgeous plexiglass has been fixed doors in the back have been replaced now will be working on trying to fix the names on the honor roll that have been misspelled. Hopefully we’ll be able to do that in the near future.
Commander Brian Avery
Post 209 Forestville Connecticut
Congratulations to the newly elected Post Officers:
Commander : Brian Avery
Adjutant : Jimmie Smith
Historian : Victor Hagaman
Chaplin : Bobby Getz
Finance officer : Brian Avery
Secondary finance officer : Bobby Getz
Sergeant at Arms : Brian Kupchak
Together we can do amazing things. Let’s continue to do amazing things .
Thank you for your commitment to the American Legion Post 209 and your community. Together Anything is Possible. Post 209 family
Wishing everyone the best 2023-2024 Membership Year!!!!
What a great night out with the post 209 family! As we are supporting another local business West End Pizza Bristol. 2022 Christmas Party
We gather together tonight to celebrating a year of accomplishments and as we are looking forward to the next year and the exciting things were looking to bring to the community.
Feeling totally blessed to have people like this by my side working together one common goal a better community and Veteran support.
Congratulations to Tom Martino on being named the 2021 American Legion Post 209 Legionnaire of the Year award for outstanding community service for the American Legion post 209 and the community. Presenting the award to Tom Martino is the past recipient American Legion Post 209 adjutant Jimmie Smith and Commander Brian Avery
POST 209 delivers thousands of books to local convalescent homes
@brianjohnsonBP
Published on Wednesday, 6 April 2022 12:28
Written by BRIAN M. JOHNSON
BRISTOL – Forestville American Legion Post 209 has been delivering thousands of books to local convalescent homes for the past year.
“We are collecting various hardcover and soft cover books and, instead of them being thrown away, we are bringing them to convalescent homes throughout Bristol,” said Brian Avery, commander of American Legion Post 209. “We delivered thousands over the past year. We delivered nine boxes yesterday and two weeks ago we delivered another six boxes.”
Avery said that books have been brought to Ingraham Manor, Sheriden Woods and Village Green of Bristol.
“Americanism is one of the four pillars for the American Legion,” said Avery. “It’s something that American Legion Post 209 tries to do on a daily basis. We want to give back to the community and let all veterans and the elderly know that we care about them, they are not forgotten and that we appreciate them. There are a lot of folks in these facilities that don’t get a lot of visitors throughout the year. Even if they don’t know who we are, it’s good for them to get a gift from someone.”
Avery said that the books are placed in common areas where residents are able to play games like chess or checkers or browse shelves of books.
“We chose to get them books because they can be enjoyed by many people,” he said. “One person will read any given book and then another 20 or 30 people will pick it up. It is a small project that has touched so many hearts. It makes going the extra mile worthwhile each and every time.”
Avery thanked post members Bruce Barton and Robert Getz for assisting in these efforts.
“To everyone involved with this program, you make me proud,” he said.
Forestville American Legion Post 209 meets at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church at 355 Camp St.
For more information, visit Americanlegionpost209.com or facebook.com/ALpost209 or call 860-384-5626.
Brian M. Johnson can be reached at 860-973-1806 or bjohnson@bristolpress.com.
American Legion Post 209 Membership Meeting. Congratulations Post 209 on reaching and exceeding 100% Membership goal! 
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American Legion Post 209 in Forestville Connecticut is so proud of the partnership that it has with the American Red Cross .Since June 2020 through June 2021 we help the American Red Cross get 764 units of blood. Together we can and will do amazing things.