ATHOL — In recognition of its contribution to Toys for Tots and local veterans services, the Marine Corps League Pequoig Detachment 1168 of Athol recently awarded the 2019 Marine Carey Citizenship Award to Rolling Thunder Vermont Chapter 1.
Chapter 1 Vice President Todd Kilanski, his wife Kelli Kilanski, President Jeffrey Neipp and member Vera Coupal accepted the award during the Pequoig Detachment’s annual Marine Corps League Dinner, celebrating the 244th birthday of the Marine Corps, on Nov. 10.
“The Rolling Thunder chapter members donated time during the Christmas holiday collecting toys for their Toys for Tots program,” Neipp explained.
The organization is active in many New England communities throughout the year, Neipp said. Rolling Thunder provides aid to veterans and contributes to fundraisers that give back to their communities around the holidays.
Rolling Thunder’s main function as a nonprofit is to publicize the prisoners of war/missing in action (POW/MIA) issue; to educate the public that many American prisoners of war were left behind; and to help correct the past and protect future veterans from being left behind should they become prisoners of war/missing in action. The organization also helped to push legislation, recently signed into law, that will require the POW/MIA flag to be displayed whenever the American flag is displayed on prominent federal properties.
“Our mission is advocating that all POW/MIAs are brought home so families have closure,” Neipp said. “We have escorted many to their final resting place so they are not forgotten.”
Rolling Thunder Vermont Chapter 1’s upcoming events include Pearl Harbor Day on Dec. 7, starting at noon at the French King Bridge parking lot. The group will also participate in Wreaths Across America on Dec. 14, starting at noon at the Soldier’s Home in Bennington, Vt., where hundreds of wreaths will be placed on the graves of veterans and a donation will be given to the Soldier’s Home.
Donations are accepted to Rolling Thunder Vermont 1, P.O. Box 8391, Brattleboro, VT 05304-8391.
Zack DeLuca can be reached at zdeluca@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 264.