Portsmouth Veterans Honor Roll

01/04/2026

10/19/2021

On October 8, 2021, at 11:00am, Portsmouth honored our six Purple Heart Recipients as we became a Purple Heart Town. Congratulations to Marvin Clements, Jeff Fletcher, Ken Garthee, Frank Gryzb, Bill McCollum, and Charles Morin. Thank you gentlemen for your service and our freedom. Article and photographs by Jim McGaw of the event can be found in the October 14th edition of the Portsmouth Times at eastbayri.com. Carolyn

12/16/2019

Gave a presentation on the Portsmouth Veterans Honor Roll to the 2nd and 3rd grade students at Melville School, Portsmouth, RI on the importance of writing down their family stories. They asked such wonderful and well thought out questions. It was truly heart-warming for us. Visiting the elementary schools always give me hope for our future and know that they will understand the importance of honor, respect and teach.
Also picked up wonderful artwork, created by the students, for the Bristol, RI Veterans Home. So many wonderful cards that will be placed in Christmas stockings for the residents. It is overwhelming to see how much good comes from our young students.

12/06/2019

Visiting Melville School next week. Looking forward to talking to the wonderful students of Melville!

06/14/2019

Participated in a Flag Folding Ceremony organized by Mitch Mendler (The Patriot Flag Project Coordinator; E.M.T. Paramedic Fire Fighter). He is visiting the states and has travelled through Luxembourg, Belgium and Normandy visiting American Cemeteries and Memorials with The Patriot Flag.

The following was taken from Mitch’s website: “The Patriot Flag is on a 50-month USA Tour to every US State Capitol and significant memorials, monuments and landmarks. The flag has been displayed at 30 state capitols in just over 2 years and many other locations to include: The Washington Memorial, George Washington’s Mansion, The Lincoln Memorial, The U.S.S. Missouri in Pearl Harbor on the 75th Anniversary, Mount Rushmore, The Alamo and we introduced Old Glory to Old Faithful in Yellowstone.”

Mitch held Rhode Island’s ceremony on June 10, 2019 in Providence at the State House. This was his 36th state visited in this tour. He had visited Hartford, Connecticut earlier in the morning and was heading to Boston, Massachusetts. Members of the Providence Fire Department, Rolling Thunder, Patriot Guard Riders assisted with the unfurling, displaying and folding of a 28’X60’ fifty-pound US flag. Photographs taken by Karen Ross of Rolling Thunder RI. Photograph of The Patriot Flag and State House was taken by Mitch Mendler.

05/03/2019

As part of a Project Blue Star and Portsmouth Veterans Honor Roll activity, Melville School and Hathaway School 3rd grade students participated in a "Thank You For Your Service" card signing. This will be presented to a Veteran on his upcoming Honor Flight. In 2018, the students participated in a project to learn about the Portsmouth Veterans Honor Roll. They have continued to make and sign cards for our Veterans with such creativity and enthusiasm! These students never disappoint!!!!

03/05/2019

I am going to use this site for a Project Blue Star task with the 3rd grade classes at Portsmouth's Melville School. I asked if the students would like to be part of a project of making "Thank You For Your Service" cards for 5 RI women Veterans that will be taking part in the Women Veterans Honor Flight to Washington, DC and never in my dreams could I have imagined the 3rd grade students final project. I was blown away by their results. Each bag is for one of the 5 Veterans and filled with cards thanking them for their service. Such attention to detail with artistic design of the recipient's name on each bag. What a professional job; beautifully packaged! Well done Melville 3rd grade, your teachers, and your School Counselor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!