Old Town war veteran receives Purple Heart

OLD TOWN – Officers of the Old Town Veterans of Foreign Wars were on hand Oct. 24 when Korean War veteran Richard Grenier finally received his Purple Heart.

Grenier was a prisoner of war when his Purple Heart and other medals were issued. He requested the actual medals last year and they arrived recently.

“I wanted the actual medals,” said Grenier, “so that I can put them in a shadow box for safe keeping and so my children can see them.”

Grenier joined the service on March 23, 1950, and was captured on Nov. 2. He spent 33 months as a prisoner of war. At the end of September 1953, he was honorably discharged.

Many members of the Grenier family attended the celebration, including Grenier’s wife, Rita. The VFW Auxiliary provided a buffet supper for the crowd. Cheers from the crowd accompanied the ceremony at Old Town VFW Hall.