GORHAM – Members of American Legion Post 62 in Westbrook visited with about 20 U.S. service veterans and distributed handmade lap blankets at the Gorham House on Monday in Gorham.

Richard Bryant of Gorham, Post 62 commander, and Ralph Johnston of Windham, quartermaster at VFW Post 10643, handed the blankets to 10 veterans in wheelchairs. Else Brown of Windham made and donated the blankets.

Westbrook’s Robert Barton of Post 62 read a roll call of service men and women present. The number included veterans from World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

Gorham House staff served coffee, muffins, fruit and juice. A flag decorated each service member’s place at the tables and patriotic music complemented the atmosphere.

Donna Berry of the Post 62 Auxiliary was on hand to support the veterans.

“We can’t thank them enough,” Berry said as veterans gathered around tables in a community room for the social.

Her father served in World War II.

“He was in the foxholes,” Berry said, adding that the foxholes would sometimes be full of water.

Berry recalled shoveling snow as a youngster to earn a token so her mother could buy sugar during the war, when goods on the home front were rationed to aid the war effort.

Doris Radley, 96, who grew up in Westbrook, also attended to honor the war veterans.

The Gorham House veterans who attended the social included Laurent Chretien, 96, a platoon sergeant in the European theater in World War II; Clayton Locke, 95, World War II army veteran, North Africa to Italy; and Willard Moulton, army staff sergeant serving under Gen. George Patton.

Bryant served in the Air Force 23 years and Johnston, age 92, was with Navy aviation from 1942-1948.

“I served in the North Pacific,” said Johnston, who repaired and assembled aircraft.

Before the meeting, Radley recalled her brothers who marched off to war and came home.

Johnston lost a brother, who was a Marine just 19 years old, in a mortar shell attack on Saipan in the Pacific theater during World War II.

“They caught hell,” Johnston said.

Post 62 members will repeat the social and roll call on Sunday, Nov. 11, for veterans residing in Portland.

Ralph Johnston of Windham, right wearing white cap, and Richard Bryant of Gorham distribute lap blankets Monday at Gorham House to veterans using wheelchairs. A World War II veteran, Johnston is a member of VFW Post 10643. Bryant is commander at Post 62 of the American Legion in Westbrook. Else Brown of Windham made the blankets.