Roland A Caron, 87, passed to Post Everlasting on Monday. Roland was a past Post 3 Commander, an Honorary Life Member, and the current Post Historian (for the last 20yrs). Visiting services were held on 8 Mar at 2PM at Anctil-Rochette Funeral Home with honors conducted by Post 3 Legion and Nashua 720 Elks members. His funeral was at 10 AM on Mon 9 Mar 2015 at St. Louis de Gonzague Parish, Nashua. Burial with full military honors followed at St. Louis de Gonzague cemetery, Nashua attended by Post 3 Legion and Auxiliary.
The following memoriam written by Post 3 member Frank Ulcickas, was published in the Sept/Oct NH Legionnaire.
Roland A. Caron in Memoriam - Jan 28, 1928 - Mar 2, 2015
With the passing of Roland Caron earlier this year, Nashua lost one of its most steadfast contributors and the American Legion one of its most loyal and longtime workers.
Roland was a person who loved his Church, his Country, his wife and family, his city, and the American Legion.
Early in his life he manifested traits that would remain with him all his life: meticulous record-keeping, sense of duty, indefatigable energy, and a love of history.
Being a graduate of Nashua High in 1947, Roland witnessed firsthand the undefeated 1946 football season and was fond of recounting how several thousand fans gathered on Main Street in downtown Nashua in front of the Nashua Telegraph building to listen to the simulcast of the Purple Panthers football team defeating Jacksonville (FL) HS in a high school bowl game.
In large part because Class President Costas "Deno" Rodis lived elsewhere, Roland served as de facto leader of his High School class and organized reunions by maintaining meticulous records. This served him well in his careers as bookkeeper, office manager, and accountant throughout his working life.
In 1951, Roland joined the U.S. Army and served in Korea. Upon his return to Nashua, he became active in Coffey Post 3 of which he was a lifetime member and for which he served as Commander, Athletic Officer and at the time of his death, Historian.
He maintained records of all Post activities since its formation in 1919 and all individuals involved in the Legion Baseball program since its inception in 1928. These have been turned over to his trusted friends, members of the Couronis family, who have promised to carry of Roland's work.
With his beloved wife, Betty, a member of the Women's Auxiliary, they worked tirelessly for the good of the Legion and for the benefit of veterans. Poppy drives. Memorial and Veterans Day parades. Support of families in times of bereavement.
Perhaps his greatest achievement was compiling a data base which records where every veteran in the fifteen cemeteries in Greater Nashua are buried. This numbers approximately 5,000 comrades, and organizes the placing of small American flags on ALL these graves on the week of Memorial and Veterans Days.
Throughout his 60 plus years as a Legionnaire, Roland was involved with the Post team somehow, as business manager, athletic officer, or advisor. In 1991, he served as Chairman of the Committee which hosted the State Tournament at Holman Stadium which was won by the local Post.
For the last six years when the State Tournament was held at Holman, Roland has served as Honorary Chairman of the Committee and its representative at the presentation ceremonies.
-Frank S. Ulcickas
The photo shows Roland Caron with Nashua Mayor Donnlee Lozeau at Historic Holman Stadium.
