Seven Deschenes Brothers - Veterans

NEW BEDFORD — This month, the American flag atop Old Glory Tower in the North End honors the memory of World War II Navy veteran Edward W. Days Jr., formerly of Mattapoisett, who died on Aug. 11, 1991, at the age of 64.

Born and educated in Fairhaven, he was sworn in to the Navy on April 7, 1945, in Providence.

Seaman 2nd Class Days completed recruit training at the Naval Training Center in Sampson, N.Y., and served in the South Pacific.

He was a member of the American Legion Florence Eastman Post 280 in Mattapoisett, the National Destroyer Escort Sailors Association and the Rhode Island Chapter of the Destroyer Escort Sailors Association.

Days was the husband of Hilda (Rapoza) Days and the father of two sons, Edward and Anthony, and two daughters, Mary Ellen and Susan. He was employed for 36 years at the New England Telephone and Telegraph Co.

A member of the Damien Council No. 4190 Knights of Columbus and the Men of the Sacred Heart, he assisted in the construction of the National Wayside Shrine on Route 6 in Mattapoisett and was a recipient of the Marian Medal for outstanding service to his church in 1989.

Joseph Theodore, 91, a World War II veteran and Purple Heart recipient, began the practice of flying veterans' flags above Old Glory Tower 37 years ago. He has enlisted the help of Linda Ferreira, a marketing representative at Ashley Ford in New Bedford, to research the life histories of area veterans, and Paul Neary, general manager of the dealership, to raise the flags.

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