Merrimack Rotary Holds Veterans' Day Breakfast

MERRIMACK, NH - The Rotary Club of Merrimack held a Veterans' Day breakfast on Veterans Day, November 11, 2021 at Wasserman Park in Merrimack. The guest speaker was U.S. Army Brigadier General Don Bolduc (ret.) who discussed Post Traumatic Stress (PTS), his work as an advocate to combat the stigma of treatment of PTS, and his 10 tours of duty in Afghanistan and Africa. He is one of the very few senior military officers and the only active-duty general officer to discuss his own struggles with PTS.

“We should celebrate the less than 1% of the people that choose to serve not just on Veterans Day, but every day," said Gen. Don Bolduc (ret.).

In addition to sharing breakfast with our guest Veterans, the Rotary Club of Merrimack ran an impromptu fundraiser to support Liberty House in Manchester, a shelter for homeless Veterans. With an internal match, the total raised was nearly $1,200.

Honored Veterans in attendance included:

Don Bolduc

Sharon Bolduc

Glenn Michael

Larry Miller

Barbara Healey

Andy Hunter

Chris Christensen

Joe Mitchell

John Irish

Peter Flood

Dawn Zebuhr

Lenny Cotreau

John Hodge

Terry Willis

Kevin Peters

Troy Aarthun

"The Merrimack Rotary meets every Thursday morning and how fortunate this year that Veterans' Day falls on a Thursday," said Steve Sher, President. "Recognizing those that served our country on Veterans' Day is an honor they highly deserve from Rotary."

Also, at the meeting five new members were inducted: Jon Eriquezzo, Wolfram von Schoen, Barbara Healey, Rep. Bob Healey, and Scott Wellman. Additionally, the meeting also recognized club volunteers who did rehabilitation projects at the Wasserman Park Function Hall. These included new lighting, interior painting and sound control panels for the main hall.

Founded in 1971, the Rotary Club of Merrimack is a volunteer organization of business people and professionals supporting the community. Merrimack Rotary projects have included the Roger Duhamel Pavilion at Watson Park, scholarships, reconstruction of Kids' Kove Playground, the Merrimack July Fourth festivities, the Rotary 4-Way Speech Contest, Interact Club, lighting at Reeds Ferry fields and more. The club works with other clubs on international projects like eradication of polio, Pure Water for the World, and hurricane relief in Honduras. Rotary Club of Merrimack also has an annual recognition of the three premiere Gold Award winners for the Green & White Mountain Council of the GSA and bestowing annual individual awards to the two Daniel Webster Council's best Scouts who earned the Eagle Scout of the Year & the Glenn & Melinda Adams Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year.

To RSVP for a meeting or for information about membership, contact Chris Christensen at 603.424.2542 or email to: chris@christensenNH.com or visit www.merrimackrotary.org.