Kate Anslinger Joins Mass Vigil Society in Tribute to Veterans

Winthrop author Kate Anslinger will donate half of the proceeds from her book readings of “Saving Jason” and “Underwater Secrets” to the Mass. Vigil Society in honor of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Month in June.

Anslinger, whose pen name is EJ Hanagan, will have a reading event for her second book June 6 at 10 a.m. at the Winthrop Book Depot and Café.

Winthrop resident Dudley Farquhar, a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War, met Anslinger at a PTSD talk at the Cottage Park Yacht Club in February. Farquhar, who was diagnosed with PTSD in 2011 and had a liver transplant in 2012, is a member of the Massachusetts Veterans Vigil Society.

“We are a Vietnam veterans organization that started going to the Vietnam Memorial [in Washington, D.C.] in 1983,” said Farquhar. “Washington held a Welcome Home Parade for Vietnam veterans and after the parade they dedicated the Vietnam Memorial.”

Farquhar said his organization has made an annual trip on Memorial Day Weekend to Washington, D.C. where it sets up its own special tribute to veterans near the Vietnam Memorial. The display consists of the American flag, the POW (Prisoner of War) flag, and a banner dedicated to 7,000 fallen veterans of the Iraqi and Afghanistan conflicts. Honan Sign Company of Winthrop is assisting the organization with the banner.

“The mission of our group is that we want all our MIAs (Missing in Action) from Massachusetts to be accounted for,” said Farquhar. “I have watched mothers and fathers go to their graves not knowing what happened to their sons and that is a national stain on our conscience as a nation.”

 After meeting with Farquhar, Anslinger made her pledge to assist the Mass. Vigil Society in defraying expenses for the trip to Washington.

“I wanted to do something for PTSD Month and help this organization,” said Anslinger “I’m very proud to help them.”

The cost of the trip will be approximately $6,000, according to Farquhar.

People wishing to make a donation to Mass. Vigil Association can send a check to Daniel Golden, 706 Pleasant St., Weymouth, Mass. 02189.