Hale-Clapp VFW Post 3295

09/18/2026

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
Today, the memorial honoring Sgt. Gregory A. Belanger was relocated to its new home beneath the scoreboard at Frontier Regional School.
Hale-Clapp VFW Post 3295 would like to recognize and sincerely thank the people who made today's installation happen: John Mikolajczuk and JD Ross of JDR Builders; Brian Fitzgerald of All States Materials Group, a retired United States Marine; and Bill Hildreth, Director of Facilities for Frontier Regional School and Union 38.
We also thank Greg's family, classmates and friends, fellow veterans, Massachusetts VFW State officers, and the many members of our community who stood with the Belanger family, attended the School Committee meeting, and spoke in support of preserving this memorial.
“Who was Sergeant Gregory Belanger?”
He was one of us. He walked these halls. He served his country. And he did not come home.
Today ensures that future generations of Frontier students will continue to see his name and have the opportunity to ask that question.
His memorial has moved. His name and his sacrifice remain.
— Hale-Clapp VFW Post 3295
South Deerfield, Massachusetts

09/04/2026

The Frontier School Committee reversed its June vote and has agreed to move a plaque honoring fallen soldier Gregory Belanger to a new scoreboard.

09/02/2026

Statement from Hale-Clapp VFW Post 3295

Hale-Clapp VFW Post 3295 would like to thank the Frontier Regional School Committee for reconsidering its previous decision and voting tonight to relocate Sergeant Gregory Belanger's memorial sign.

We would especially like to thank the extraordinary number of people who came out tonight in support of Greg and the Belanger family.

It was standing room only.

Greg's classmates and friends stood alongside fellow veterans, parents, graduates, and members of the community. Massachusetts VFW State officers were also present in support of the effort to preserve Greg's memorial.

Speaker after speaker stood before the Committee and expressed, in their own words, why this memorial matters and why Greg's service and sacrifice should continue to be publicly remembered.

Not a single member of the public spoke in opposition to relocating the memorial.

That overwhelming show of support mattered.

Most importantly, we recognize the Belanger family. For more than twenty years, they have carried Greg's memory and ensured that his sacrifice is not forgotten. Their request was never about creating a new memorial. It was simply about preserving the memorial that has stood at Frontier for more than two decades and allowing it to continue serving the purpose for which it was originally placed.

Tonight, the community made its voice heard, and the Committee ultimately listened.

As we said during tonight's meeting, someday a Frontier student may see that memorial and ask:

“Who was Sergeant Gregory Belanger?”

Because of tonight's decision, future generations will continue to have the opportunity to ask that question—and our community will have the opportunity to answer:

He was one of us. He walked these halls. He served his country. And he did not come home.

Hale-Clapp VFW Post 3295 looks forward to standing with the Belanger family and our community when Sergeant Belanger's memorial is placed in its new location and rededicated.

We thank Greg's family, his classmates and friends, our fellow veterans, the Massachusetts VFW State officers, and every member of the community who filled that room tonight, stood in support, and helped ensure that a promise made more than twenty years ago will continue to be honored.

Greg's memorial will move. His name and sacrifice will remain.

— Hale-Clapp VFW Post 3295
South Deerfield, Massachusetts

08/28/2026

CALL FOR COMMUNITY SUPPORT — PLEASE JOIN US

We had to dig to find this meeting notice, and we are hoping to fill the room.

Hale-Clapp VFW Post 3295 has met with the Belanger family, and we stand together in what we are asking of the Frontier Regional School Committee: move Sergeant Gregory Belanger's memorial sign, preserve it in a place of honor, and rededicate it so that his service and sacrifice remain visible to future generations.

On Tuesday, September 1 at 6:00 PM, the Frontier Regional School Committee will meet at the Frontier Regional School Library Media Center to reconsider its previous vote regarding Sergeant Belanger's memorial.
Please come and let the Committee know that we stand with our fallen brother and his family.

Sergeant Belanger is the only Frontier student to have been killed in action since the Vietnam War. His memorial has stood at Frontier for more than twenty years. This is not a request to create a new memorial—it is a request to preserve and rededicate an existing memorial honoring a member of this community who gave his life in service to our nation.

We ask the School Committee to reconsider its previous vote and allow Sergeant Belanger's memorial to stand in perpetuity, in a location of honor where students, families, and visitors will continue to see his name and understand the sacrifice it represents.

This is about more than a sign. It is about whether we, as a community, continue to honor and remember one of our own who did not come home.
Please stand with the Belanger family, our veterans, and our community.

Tuesday, September 1 — 6:00 PM
Frontier Regional School Library Media Center
113 North Main Street
South Deerfield, MA
Let's fill the room.

Hale-Clapp VFW Post 3295
Vincent Sarno
USAF Veteran
Quartermaster, Hale-Clapp VFW Post 3295

07/17/2026

"The VFW has never apologized for forcibly defending veterans."
And championing the causes we support.

07/13/2026

Another well done article!

Soldier Gregory Belanger lost his life in Iraq and was memorialized in his hometown for over 20 years, until now.

07/13/2026

An amazing article. It was an emotional read for us.
Commander Otto represents her fellow OIF and VFW comrades well.
Hopefully our voices are heard and the School committee decides to review their decision.

Belanger’s mother, Kathleen Belanger, of Deerfield, asked the School Committee to approve moving the memorial to the new scoreboard at the athletic fields at the June 11 meeting, and her daughter, Allison, requested the committee reverse its decision on June 26. She still has not received a respon...

07/12/2026

A strong sentiment.

Good morning! The Frontier School Committee’s decision not to keep the plaque honoring Greg Belanger under the new scoreboard shows the disconnect between then and now, of when humidity on hot August days was measured by the smell of the pickle brine, when tractors hauled to***co crops through tow...

07/11/2026

We are very sad to announce. Frank was our Post Chaplain for many years. Our prayers are with his family.
We will be there to render military honors.

Frank A. PydychDeerfield, MA - Frank A. Pydych, 75, of Upper Road, died Saturday 7/4/26, at the Charlene Manor Extended Care Facility in Greenfield. He was born in Greenfield on June 26, 1951, the son of Charles an ...