Concord, Manchester Police, NH State Troopers Honor War Hero

CONCORD, NH — Gardner Leo Signor of Concord died on Sunday, at the age of 101.

The New Hampshire native, who was born in Manchester and was World War II hero, was part of a generation who fought tyranny and fascism overseas and was able to live to tell about it. In fact, Signor outlived all of his immediate family. So much so that when he died, there was no one left to honor him in New Hampshire.

Thankfully, Signor had a few friends he met later in life who reached out to the Concord police and others, and asked, if they would honor him.

Deputy Chief John Thomas of the Concord Police Department said he and others jumped at the chance to honor Signor along with Manchester police, state troopers, and others, too.

Signor had planned his own service at Christ the King Parish on South Main Street and on Thursday, the departments came together to make sure it was like no other.

"Concord police were contacted by an acquaintance of his," Thomas said. "He had no family, no relatives. But he was a true American hero."

Signor served in World War II for two and half years, storming the beaches of Normandy, with thousands of others, and was also in Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge. When he returned to the United States, he got married and worked for the Veterans Administration. His wife, Mary, died nearly two decades ago.

Thomas said, while he did not serve in the military, a lot of police department personnel were former soldiers, including in Concord. They knew, he said, it would be an honor to be with Signor and hold a procession. Close to 30 law enforcement officials participated in the service and procession, Thomas said.

There are not many left from the Greatest Generation and Thomas said, he and others feared that younger people do not realize how important they were saving the world, at the time.

"They put the country before themselves," he said.

To make it out of World War II, especially more than two years, and major, multiple battles, and then to have such a long life, being born during one pandemic and passing on during another, too, was "pretty incredible," Thomas said.

"It seemed wrong for him to die alone," Thomas said.

Thomas said the Concord Police Department thanked all of the officers and personnel involved in the event on Thursday to honor Signor.

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