"they kicked over a hornet’s nest"

One of the medal recipients honored on Friday tells his story in the Milford Daily News:

On Oct. 7, 1967, as the Vietnam War raged on, Robert Gardner, of Franklin, was awarded the Bronze Star medal, a commendation given to U.S. Army soldiers who display valor on the battlefield. 

Gardner was a first lieutenant commanding an armored cavalry platoon based in the area around the Bong Son River, in the western part of the country. 

Below is a summary of the day that earned Gardner his medal. It began like any other for a soldier rolling through the rice paddies, creeks and streams, under the blistering sun of Vietnam.

You can read the reminder of Robert Gardner's story here: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x794467153/Franklin-recipient-of-Bronze-Star-tells-his-story#ixzz2BuezUlE4

In case you missed the story of the Veterans Day ceremony held at the Franklin Senior Center on Friday
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/11/i-think-of-guys-who-sacrificed-for-us.html

In the News - benefits for Vietnam veterans

Franklin Veterans Agent Bob Fahey said 709 Franklin residents served in Vietnam between 1965 and 1975, and recently several have approached him about whether their illnesses could be connected to their service.

``What I want to do as a veterans agent is make people aware of these circumstances war creates,'' Fahey said.

He said vets must file an application proving their service in Vietnam, and provide documentation of the disease to determine whether they qualify for benefits.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

Vets now qualify for Agent Orange-related illness benefits

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Ashley Studley/Daily News staff

In the News - regionalization, Vietnam, Faithful Nine

Franklin looks at regionalizing services

from The Milford Daily News Homepage RSS by Ashley Studley/Daily News staff

Despite financial benefits, both Nutting and Whalen agree the only foreseeable drawback is a loss of control over town services.

"We, as residents of our community, can control the level of town services we enjoy," Whalen said, citing the controlled number of town workers. "With regionalization, by definition, we as residents of Franklin would have less of a say in what goes on right in our town on these matters because we would be part of a larger group of people who would collectively make these decisions."

"You have to be willing to give up control, " said Nutting. "But that's (for) the people in the government, not the residents."

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Honoring the Faithful Nine in Franklin

from The Milford Daily News Homepage RSS by Jake Jacobson

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Franklin honors Vietnam War fallen

from The Milford Daily News Homepage RSS by Melissa Ostrow

In the News - Vietnam War Heroes

Rose Turco formally invited the Town of Franklin and members of the Council to the dedication ceremony to e held on Nov 8th. Additional info from the Town Council meeting can be found here.

Vietnam vets to be honored in Franklin

from The Milford Daily News Homepage RSS by Ashley Studley/Daily News staff

 If you click through to read the story on the Milford Daily News page, you'll perhaps recognize the photo. I did provide the photo and permission for it to be used by the paper.

In the News - Vietnam, state mandates

State mandates take another step

Citing evidence of early decay in children's mouths, the state plans to require nursery schools, pre-schools and other licensed day care providers to give dental care lessons and supervise cleaning if their charges are there for more than four hours a day or eat a meal.

Read the full article here:

State to require toothbrushing at daycares, preschools

from The Milford Daily News Homepage RSS by Michael Morton/Daily News staff

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The six Franklin natives who did not survive the Vietnam War are to be honored.  

"With the hectic and busy lives people live today and the mobile society that we are, it is understandable that people may forget the ultimate sacrifice made by soldiers in the Armed Forces," said Hunchard. "Maybe while stopped at a stop sign or stop light, people may notice a veteran's remembrance sign and realize the sacrifices made for our way of life."

Read the full article here

Franklin to honor Vets

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Ashley Studley, Daily News correspondent

In the News - Vietnam casualties, education

New signs in planning to recognize Franklin's Vietnam War casualties

A sign of respect

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Ashley Studley/Daily News staff

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I think that we are too obsessed with control as a concept. Most societies which suffer from intellectual rigidity don't produce much that is original. They tend to perfect what others have done as original concepts. Do we really want our kids to be cogs in well oiled machines? It's too bad that too many people reading this will say, "Yes, and what's wrong with that?"

If you are asking that question in a rhetorical way, there really is nothing that anyone can tell you. If the idea of the concept of an eight-hour school day and an 11-month school year is up for vote, President Obama, my vote is "No!"

Read the full essay by James Johnston here

JAMES JOHNSTON: The ideal society and education

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by James Johnston/Daily News columnist