Veterans Day at New Bedford Military Museum [TOWNSQUARE SUNDAY]

It will be a full day of activity at the Fort Taber-Fort Rodman Military Museum in New Bedford on Veterans Day, November 11.

Museum President Bill Niedzwiedz said the museum will open at 10 a.m. on Thursday with coffee and donuts available for visitors. At 11 a.m., the museum volunteers will take part in a "Bells of Peace" ceremony, commemorating the signing of the Armistice, ending World War I.  At 1 p.m., the Fort Taber-Fort Rodman Military Museum will host a program entitled "The Use of Animals in World War 1," presented by Joe Yukna of the Cape Cod Military Museum.

During our conversation this week on Townsquare Sunday, Niedzwiedz also said he's looking for the families of two New Bedford men, one who served during World War II, the other in Iraq. He wants to return some special items he discovered several years ago.

When the Andrew Dahill Post closed on Park Street, Niedzwiedz was asked to come by and remove anything he felt might be useful in the military museum collection.

One was a family photo album containing photos of the man pictured above, Aviation Ordinanceman 1st Class Petty Officer Armand Leo Pelletier. The photo album contained pictures of Pelletier and his family, and he'd like to return it to the family or get their permission before displaying the photos at the museum.

The second item is a Flag mounted in a wooded frame that was given to the Dahill Post by Sgt. Gary Beniquez. The inscription says the flag was flown over United States Military headquarters in Iraq on Veterans Day, November 11, 2010. Neidzwiedz said he's been unable to locate Beniquez or any member of his family to return the flag.

He's hoping his appearance on Townsquare Sunday will help him make connections with both families so he can return the items to their rightful owners.

Townsquare Sunday is a weekly public affairs program heard every Sunday morning on 1420 WBSM. The program highlights individuals and organizations seeking to make Greater New Bedford a better place to live and work.

If you would like your organization featured on Townsquare Sunday, please e-mail the host at jim.phillips@townsquaremedia.com.