Thursday, July 25, 2013

Welcome home Selectman Sgt Bennett

Selectman, Sgt. Bennett welcomed home
Board of Selectmen Chairman Sgt. Jeffrey Bennett sits at the table during Monday’s meeting, his first after returning from serving nine months in Afghanistan.
Kerry O'Brien
News Staff Writer

TEMPLETON — After serving nine months in Afghanistan, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, Sgt. Jeffrey Bennett of the Massachusetts Army National Guard returned home to Templeton last week.

“I was overseas doing something I volunteered to do — no one forced me to do it,” Sgt. Bennett said. “I think the town of Templeton is very special group for supporting me.”

A native and resident of town for decades, Sgt. Bennett — a retired Marine sergeant — was put on active service in September, in the midst of his three-year term on the selectmen which began in May 2011.


“My unit was activated,” Sgt. Bennett explained. “We’re a construction company — we have plumbers, electricians, carpenters, and we build stuff, as strange as it seems with a war going on. It’s an ongoing process and we build for the coalitions of troops for Operation Enduring Freedom.”

In a Board of Selectmen’s meeting he called to be held Monday, Sgt. Bennett thanked the community for the support he received while he was deployed.

“I have to thank a lot of people  who mailed all kinds of things from Dunkin Donuts coffee to chocolate to magazines and pictures,” he said. “It’s very humbling to me that people took the time and the effort to send stuff overseas. It really helps when you get stuff from home, so I thank you, it was really appreciated.”

Although it was not a regularly scheduled meeting, Sgt. Bennett said he wanted to jump back into the goings-on in town.

“I was able to keep up with current events in town and in the state via cell phone and the Internet,” he said, “but I thought it was worthwhile to hear what people have to say.”

“I really enjoy this job,” he continued. “I enjoy talking to the people of Templeton.”

4 comments:

  1. Thank you Mr. Bennett ! Glad you are back!!!

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  3. Welcome home Sargent Bennet!! According to Paul Craig Roberts (a political insider) in an article at Templeton times war preparations have been approved against China. No wonder we don't have any money for local projects and education.

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  4. Any thank you or appreciation goes to and is deserved to the residents of the Town of Templeton. I simply went to a place to do the work I was assigned to do while the residents / taxpayers of Templeton took time to take part in Town meeting and other meetings involving town business. The residents deserve and have earned any and all accolades for doing what needs to be done. The citizens attend the meetings and make the call thought votes and pay the bills. As an elected person, I merely try to carry out their wishes, although not always exactly the way in which they wish or feel for many reasons (mostly the details of the law) I thank them for the privilege of being allowed to do this. The headlines should be Thank You voters of Templeton for taking the time to vote and to be heard. Your kindness is amazing and will not be forgotten!!

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