MEMBERS OF THE Goshen Historical Society shared information about World War II and life on the homefront in an event at the American Legion in Bristol on May 7. Shown from left are Madine Brown Reed, Galina Chernaya, Marci Hayes, Abigail Hayes, Barbara Brown, Kathy Mathis, Erin Van Auken, Ken Brown. In the frame is a list of Goshen residents who served in World War II.
Photo by Steven Jupiter/The Reporter

GOSHEN — The newly active Goshen Historical Society is extremely proud of the town’s past. Earlier this month, it remembered the experiences of the town’s inhabitants during World War II and called to mind those Vermonters who served in the war at a May 7 event at the Brandon American Legion.

RAYMOND FASANO, A radioman second class in the U.S. Navy, was 22 years old when his ship was hit by a kamikaze plane near Okinawa during World War II on May 11, 1945. His body was never recovered, and he is officially listed as missing in action. His story was featured at the Goshen Historical Society’s exhibit on World War II at the Brandon American Legion this month.
Photo courtesy of the Goshen Historical Society

Marci Hayes of GHS said the gathering was in a series of events the historical society planned around the three historic markers in Goshen that commemorate the town’s citizens who served in the Revolutionary War, Civil War and both World Wars.

“We thought it would be interesting to create a program for each marker,” Hayes said.  

Last December, the historical society commemorated the U.S. Civil War. In May, it was World War II. No date has been set for the American Revolution event.

The May 7 World War II program included visual exhibits of photographs and relics, donated for the event by local families and other historical organizations, such as the Pittsford Historical Society and the Brandon Museum.  

“We put the word out to the community [for donations],” Hayes said. Three or four families from Goshen contributed material, as well as families from California with ancestral ties to Goshen.

Refreshments were served and the Otter Valley Union High School Jazz Band played songs from the 1940s as well.