LOWELL, Mass. -- The Air Force Association Paul Revere Chapter normally hosts a Veterans Holiday Party for Hanscom Air Force Base-area veterans in early December at the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) in Lowell, Massachusetts. The event includes a meal, music, Santa and gifts to veterans.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this year’s in-person holiday party was cancelled; however, the pandemic did not stop the chapter from providing holiday cheer to veterans.
Led by retired Col. Mike Therrien, AFA Paul Revere Chapter members delivered new winter coats, gifts cards, and a hot turkey meal to approximately 95 veterans in six Veteran homes in Massachusetts.
“Mike is a great leader and chapter volunteer. Each year, he spearheads two important veterans’ events for our chapter, a summer barbecue and the Christmas Holiday Party,” said retired Col. David DeNofrio, Paul Revere Chapter president.
Assisting Therrien was Master Sgt. Brandon McCarty, the chapter’s chief of staff.
“Master Sgt. McCarty is an outstanding young leader. These two veterans events solidify our chapter mission and demonstrate we are ‘Airman for Life,’” said DeNofrio.
Other chapter volunteers include: Maj. Drew Armstrong; 1st Lt. Marty Martelon; Master Sgt. Jennifer Deinhart; Tech. Sgt. Kyle Majorana; Senior Airman Carlos Howard; Senior Airman Alejandro Pena; Senior Airman Katharine Howard; Pat Dagle; retired Col. Joe Pridotkas; Matt Mleziva; and DeNofrio.