Brookfield VFW Post Receives Top Honors During State Convention

At the recent Veterans of Foreign Wars Connecticut State Convention, The Jason D. Lewis Brookfield Memorial VFW Post 10201 received multiple awards for their performance during the 2018 - 2019 Calendar Year.

State Commander James Delancy announced a special Commanders award for the Brookfield Post for their exceptional continued growth, community service performance, and recruiting success over the past three years.

Brookfield Post Commander Joseph Beal was awarded an appreciation plaque for outstanding leadership that resulted in achieving membership growth in excess of 120% of the stated goal which was among the highest for all VFW Posts in the State. In addition, Paul Sedor, an officer of the Brookfield Post, was honored with the George S. French Award for exceptional leadership and devoted service given each year to the most outstanding Post Quartermaster in the State.

Grace Collins, an Ambassador Scout in Brookfield Troop 50897, who was selected by the Post as the Brookfield Scout of the Year, went on to take First Place in the VFW Statewide Competition for that recognition.

The Brookfield Post was on the verge of losing their charter in 2017. However under the new leadership of Commander Beal, the Post engaged in an aggressive recruiting program targeted primarily toward young veterans, many of whom served during operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

In addition, outreach programs effecting current service members and area veterans were implemented by the Post. They included support of local Brookfield service men and women currently deployed overseas, and open house programs to counsel Brookfield veterans on benefits and disability they may qualify for.

Further community programs within Brookfield which more closely bonded the Post to the area residents were also instituted. Among those were assuming responsibility for placing over 120 flags along the major town routes. Also, bringing back a Veterans Day Ceremony at Williams Park and hosting the Memorial Day Ceremony and bringing back a traditional honor guard rifle salute to pay tribute to the Town’s fallen military heroes.

The Post, in addition, co-sponsor a summer Patriots Concert and a Veterans Day Musical Salute to Brookfield Veterans. They also introduced the VFW Patriot Pen program in the Brookfield Middle Schools during which 28 students received certificates of appreciation for their essays. Another special effort resulted in securing military branch service stones from the Siemen’s Corporation, and placing them outside of town hall. Perhaps most importantly, they renamed their Post to honor the memory of Brookfield Navy Seal, Chief Petty Officer Jason D. Lewis, who lost his life serving his country during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

These represent just some of the accomplishments of the Brookfield VFW Post over the past three years that has earned them the special recognition the State VFW Command bestowed upon them.