Veterans seek donations for graveside flags

WINSTED — It’s been two years since members of the Winsted VFW Post 296 asked for the community’s help with the annual replacement of American flags at the graves of the town’s deceased soldiers, sailors and marines. Volunteers are again asking for monetary donations, as it appears town leaders will once again leave funding out of Winsted’s annual budget.“We asked for donations two years ago,” said Winsted police officer and Vietnam veteran Paul Vaccari in an interview at The Winsted Journal’s Main Street office. “Thanks to the generosity of local residents, individuals and businesses, we were able to purchase flags for two years, but now we are looking for donations again.”Vaccari said the cost for new flags at the graves of veterans throughout town is approximately $2,000. Volunteers from the VFW will gather shortly before Memorial Day to replace old flags and clean up grave sites.Media outlets including the Waterbury Republican-American and WFSB-TV in Hartford have already publicized the Winsted VFW’s flag mission, and Vaccari said he is grateful to everyone locally and around the state who has responded with phone calls and donations.For those who wish to make a donation, checks may be made payable to VFW Post 296, PO Box 53, Winsted, CT 06098.