This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
11/20/2024 08:30 AMThere are many people who go and sacrifice their lives to represent and protect their country and, sometimes, it can be difficult for them to get reaccustomed to civilian life and stay involved in their communities. Larry Santamaria is someone who, despite not having the easiest time in his post-service life, is still finding ways to help other people, including fellow veterans like himself.
Larry has been a vital member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) for over 40 years since his service concluded. He currently holds the position of commander and stays in contact with his fellow veterans. As a veteran of the Vietnam War, Larry felt the need to work with veterans, especially those dealing with posttraumatic stress. Larry dealt with posttraumatic stress for a long time following the conclusion of his service, and he wants to help other people who may be going through something similar.
“A lot of my way of dealing with it was surrounding myself with other veterans,” he says. “I found people that I had something in common with.”
Larry has also played a part in organizing the celebration of patriotic holidays in the shoreline area for many years, including Memorial Day and Veterans Day. In 2023, he was inducted into the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame, in addition to receiving an award at Shore Publishing’s Beacon Awards ceremony. Although he doesn’t look for any recognition, Larry says that it still means a lot to him that the people in his community recognize his efforts.
Larry has been a resident of the shoreline area for his entire life. He says that coming back home and connecting with fellow veterans through the VFW after serving his country was important to him.
“One of the things I took a lot of pleasure in when I was coming back from my service as a young man was getting involved with the VFW,” Larry says. “I was working with a lot of fellow Vietnam veterans, but also working with people who were veterans of World War II and the Korean War. I was connected to them in some way, and I got to know them even better and help them.”
Larry takes in pride in the area where he’s from and which helped raise him. Now, Larry is trying to help local people who are in need in any way he can.
In Larry’s mind, the most important recognition he’s ever received is his Purple Heart, which was awarded to him after he was wounded during his time in the military. The Purple Heart is an award which carries much weight and honor in the military community.
While he has done a lot of work in helping fellow veterans, Larry also goes out of his way to assist other people, especially the elderly, who may not be able to afford or have access to healthy and filling meals. As a chef in collaboration with Meals on Wheels, Larry is able to assist these people, and he feels very proud to be a part of that organization.
“It’s a wonderful program that helps a lot of people,” he says. “I work with a lot of very nice people, and for me it is very rewarding.”
On Saturday, Dec. 14, Larry will help lead Wreaths Across America, an organization which goes to local veteran gravesites and places wreaths on or next to their tombstones, including at Alder Brook Cemetery in Guilford.
“It’s a wonderful organization that helps to honor our veterans,” Larry says. “Whether it’s in Arlington [at Arlington National Cemetery] or right here in the local area, it’s a way for us to remember them and to pay tribute to them. For me, it’s very important that we do that…I recognize that these men and women gave up so much, and they still give up a lot.”
While he knows that it’s important to remember those who died during their service to their country, Larry believes that we should also be acknowledging the people who are still feeling the effects of war. Larry is currently battling the effects of Agent Orange, a chemical herbicide which was used during the Vietnam War and still negatively affects veterans of that war. While he is hopeful that he will recover and get better, for Larry, the need to honor those who may not have much time left is still important to him
“Although we honor those who lost their lives in war, remember those that are still dying,” he says.