Local History with Karen Cuccinello - Harry Pruden Jr Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No 6292

World War II ended September 2, 1945 and the Stamford Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) began about six months later. Membership in the VFW requires honorable service and service in a war, campaign or expedition on foreign soil or hostile waters.

February 28, 1946 Stamford Mirror-Recorder - The unit of the Veterans of Foreign Wars now being formed in Stamford will be known as Harry Pruden Jr. Post No. 6292, and application has been made to national headquarters in Kan sas City, Mo. for a charter under this name. Applications for membership have been sent to 122 veterans and to date, seven ty have joined.

Status was granted March 18, 1946 and at a meeting in1947 in their meeting room in the Opera House (behind 72 Main, razed 1954) they elected Robert Mattice Commander; Harold Collins Senior Vice Commander; Hubert Harwood Junior Vice Commander; Raymond Pearsall Quartermaster;Louis Faulkner Adjutant; Shel don Cammer, Joseph Berardy and Ed ward Bloodgood, trustees.

In 1948 a ladies auxiliary was formed and elected President, Mrs. Walter Cornell; senior vice president, Mrs. Gor don Myer; junior vice president, Mrs. Louis Campagna; secretary, Mrs. Clarence Loucks and treasurer Miss Ethel Herman. Also in 1948 the Stamford and Hobart Legion basketball teams and the Stamford and South Kortright Cen tral School teams held games at Churchill Gym (117 Main St.) as a fundraiser for the VFW.

They moved into the old Stamford Country Club/Spruceland/Cederhurst at 65721 Rte. 10 in 1949 and offered a bar and dinners. A Dads of Foreign Service Veterans group was sponsored by the Post and formed in 1951. The Dad's organization was formed after the First World War when it was found that there was no place in Veterans organizations for the dad who was not in the Armed service of the nation.

In 1959 they honored two Gold Star Mothers, Mrs. Harry Pruden of Stamford and Mrs. Roy Tremper of Downsville. They put on a new roof in 1986.

Through the years the VFW offered Easter egg hunts, annual clambake, chicken barbecues, dances, postcard shows and sale 1978 to mid 1980's, flea market, use of the hall for wedding receptions and banquets. They marched in many parades, often leading the parade with color guard.

The VFW was named after Harry M. Pruden Jr. who was born in Stamford December 25, 1921 to Harry M. (1888-1967) and Grace (Robins, 1897-1982) Pruden and graduated from Stamford Central in 1941 then enlisted in the Army Air Corps December 9, 1941. He flew about 46 missions in a P-47 Thunderbolt over Germany starting August 1943 and was reported missing in action December 1, 1943. The Army declared Second Lieutenant dead September 1945 and he has a memorial gravestone in Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery Liege, Belgium.

Harry Jr.'s brother Sergeant Frederick William Pruden (1938-1970) joined the US Army in 1956 and died November 2, 1970 as a result of illness following a third tour of duty in Vietnam.

The Harry Pruden Jr. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 6292 disbanded August 2024, at 78 years old, due to lack of membership according to Dave Peake. The ladies auxiliary VFW disbanded earlier. The plaques and flags of the Post are now in the Stamford Library history room.

Stamford's American Legion Utsayantha Post #1379, formed 1946, bought and met at 33 Harper St. from 1946 to1956 then started meeting at the VFW building “Stamford Veteran's Club” and are still active.