Winsted VFW auxiliary celebrates 100th year of helping veterans, families

Feb. 8—WINSTED — For the last 100 years, the auxiliary of Veterans of Foreign Wars Seicheprey Post 296 in Winsted has supported veterans and their families, and new members, providing information on everything from Veterans Affairs benefits to retrieving a late soldier's medals for their families.

The VFW post sits on Colebrook River Road, a few miles from busy Main Street. The quiet spot along the river was the perfect place for an anniversary celebration, and auxiliary members worked hard to provide as much history on the group as they could.

"We were pretty happy with the turnout," member Lorraine McCafferty said of the Saturday event. "It was a nice combination of people from the post and the auxiliary. The weather was so cold, that we think it kept some people home. But we had a nice group of people there."

Along with speeches from the auxiliary and visiting dignitaries, the group honored its essay contest winners, a group of teenagers who won prizes for essays on veterans. Middle school students Reagan Doot won first place for her essay, followed by Joseph Vasaturo IV, who won second place. On the high school level, winners were Sarena Doot in first place, Solcia Swanson in second place, and Lila Alderte in third place.

"The essay contests are a way for kids to learn and write about our (military) history," said the Rev. Lin McGee, a longtime member.

In fact, the whole day was devoted to the group's history, thanks to McCafferty, who delved into boxes of photographs, posters and other memorabilia stored in the attic at the post. She assembled story boards with photographs of the original members, as well as collages of photos from earlier days and events. The students' essays were laminated and arranged on another board, allowing everyone to read them. Framed awards, long stored away, were brought out to share with the group.

"She did a wonderful job," McGee said of McCafferty's efforts. "She was very brave, going up into that attic."

The auxiliary was chartered on Feb. 9, 1923, then under the leadership of the late Cmdr. William Carl Waterhouse. Originally known as the "Ladies Auxiliary," there were 25 charter members, including Mrs. J. E. Holcomb, Mrs. Hattie Higbey, Margaret G. Sullivan, Miss H. Bajorin, Mrs. J. W. Benbow, Margaret L. Sullivan, Mrs. G. H. Beardsley, Mrs. Lena E. Ransom, Mary Sullivan, Mrs. Adelaide Libey, Miss Anna Ransom, Mrs. E. Shevett, Miss Esther Woodin, Mrs. Robert Kearney, Mrs. C. Carter, Miss Mary Woodin, Mrs. G. Nash, Gladys Ford, Miss Catherine Meehan, Mrs. M. Maxfield, Mrs. W. Reutter, Mrs. H. L. Holcomb, Mrs. H. W. Linson, Irene Elton, and Jenny Donavan. The names of four Gold Star Mothers also appeared on the original charter: Mrs. C. Tuttle, Mrs. Anna Ramsey, Esther Maddrah, and Mrs. C. Meehan.

Saturday's event paid tribute to the group's founders, said McGee, a longtime member, as well as their families and the group's 70 present-day members and their families. McGee's husband, David, is the post's chaplain; her son, JamesPeter Matthews, a 34-year Army veteran, is head trustee of Post 296 and is assistant legislative chairman of the VFW Department of Connecticut. Another son, Daniel W. Matthews, is the post's commander, as well as commander of VFW District 5.

"I've been involved since I was a little girl, because of the military history of my family," McGee said, adding that her uncle, Ray Keegan, fought and died in World War I. "As an auxiliary member, there are lots of things you can do to help veterans and their families."

"Our event was a great opportunity for people to learn about joining the auxiliary," McCafferty said. "Military families are eligible, and they can qualify to join."

The VFW and its auxiliaries are always looking for young people — teenagers and young adults — to join, too.

"My grandson is 16, and he wants to start a peer group to get other kids his age interested," McGee said. "We're highlighting on youth, to get more members. We're not going to be around forever. They're next."

McGee has learned many different ways to help the veteran community at home. "We are here for all veterans, and people just don't know that, so it keeps them away," she said. "They don't know what's available to them. We do what we can to let them know."

Right now, for example, McGee is working with a veteran who has not received his benefits. "We work through the VA and West Haven's facility," she said. "Veterans can apply in person or online, but an older person might not do that. They need an advocate."

"Otherwise, it could take years to get (the military benefits)," McCafferty said.

The auxiliary has a small relief fund, if someone needs money for groceries, a medical or electric bill. They also help people connect with counseling services and other programs, if needed, McGee said. "We support active duty (soldiers) in the military community, too."

McCafferty's son, Sean Barry, has 31 years of military service in the Air Force, and served in the Gulf War. He is a trustee of Post 296. "I joined just to get more involved, for my son," she said. Previously, she helped set up flu and COVID-19 vaccine clinics through the post, she said.

During the pandemic, the post had to close to the public. "So this is a resurgence of what we've always done. We do community outreach, and we're getting back into that now," McCafferty said.

"Community outreach, for us, means that you go out talk to people, particularly youth, and organize projects for them to participate in," McGee said. "One of our members researched how to clean gravestones, and she got a group together and went to Forest View Cemetery and did that project. It looked so great when it was all done."

The auxiliary and regular members of VFW Post 296 meets on the third Wednesday of the month. New members are always welcome. To learn more or to join, call 860-379-3489, or visit the auxiliary's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Veterans.Hall.VFW296.

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