Pearls of Public Service

No service organization today can operate without volunteers.

The East Hampton VFW Post 5095 and the VFW Post 5095 Ladies Auxiliary understand this and have instituted annual Public Service Awards to recognize East Hampton citizens for their volunteer efforts.

The VFW Post 5095 2011 Public Service Awards are for Larry and Mary Emmons and Don Ingraham. All three have served the East Hampton community for many years. To receive this award it is not necessary to have an affiliation with the VFW.

Don Ingraham has been in the East Hampton Volunteer Fire Department for 54 years.

“I always wanted to be a fireman," he said. "As soon as I was 21 years old, I joined this department. I have held every office. It has been very rewarding. I have seen a lot of good and a lot of bad.”

Ingraham’s only regret is that the time spent on his job at Standard Knapp and the fire department, took away from time he would have liked to spend with his family.

Those volunteer hours that Ingraham put into the fire department also did not leave him much time for other endeavors. In his service to the town, Ingraham has met and helped many people. In 2009, this garnered him the Citizen of the Year award from the East Hampton Village Lions Club. In earlier years, Ingraham was also involved in the East Hampton Ambulance Association.

Larry and Mary Emmons have been involved with the Old Home Days Association. Larry was president for one year and Mary served in that capacity for three years.

They also have been involved with the VFW Post 5095 for years. Counting his time in New Milford, Larry has been a VFW member for 54 years.

“I love to cook the eggs at the VFW breakfasts,” Larry said.

Mary talks about her early beginnings into volunteerism in Danbury.

“I started volunteering when I was just a kid during World War II," she said. "I helped collect pots and pans from people who didn’t want them anymore to give to the truck that came around collecting. There was a swamp near where I lived and I helped collect milkweed pods. The milkweed was used in the Mae West life jackets. I also went with an older woman and helped spot planes.”

Mary has also volunteered with the East Hampton Ambulance Association. She helps Larry in his many volunteer endeavors such as the Belltown Antique Car Show.  

Other organizations that Larry is involved with include the Marlborough American Legion Post 197, the Willimantic Elks, East Hampton Lions and the East Hampton Men’s Golf League.

An active member of the Yankee Polecats Insulators Club, Larry annually invites members from all over the world to come to a gathering at the Emmons home.

“Mary helps me a lot with that event," he said. "We’ll have another one in September.”

Ingraham would like to round off his career with the East Hampton Volunteer Fire Department at 55 years, and then he will think about quitting. Ingraham expressed concern about how hard it will be to leave something that has been a part of his life for so long.

“We’ve always had a good crew that doesn’t get enough credit from the town,” Ingraham said.

On volunteering Larry said, “I just enjoy doing it. I figure if it helps somebody out or makes somebody happy, that’s good.”