Remembering and Honoring Larry Bederian

Lawrence P. “Larry” Bederian died March 31 at his home following a long illness. Today he will be remembered in a 'celbration of life.'

The letter, below, was contributed by Judith Pond Pfeffer, former Town Councilor and former member of the School Committee.

On May 20, 2020, the Franklin Town Council presented a Proclamation to Lawrence P. Bederian, honoring him for his service to the Veterans Organizations and his many years of service to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) posts and organizations in Franklin and across the State. A little more information about Larry – for many years I was asked to drive in the Franklin Rotary Memorial Day parade, preferably in a convertible, to provide a ride to veterans who might need that.

Initially this started with a convertible I owned then thru the generosity of Joe Halligan and One Stop Auto, Joe rented a brand-new convertible for the Veterans to ride in the Memorial Day Parade.

Some years there were many who wanted to ride and some years there were none who wanted a ride. Larry and many of the other veterans who walked the parade route wanted to walk and generally walked the Franklin Parade after they had earlier the same morning walked the Norfolk Memorial Parade route. During Larry’s military service he received a Purple Heart and later, in his civilian life, lost part of his right leg in an accident. He had a prosthesis (the reason for his nick-name among friends -- Peg-Leg).

Larry would not ride – he walked – he walked up the hills for each parade stop and each gun salute – often I would be driving – by myself – extremely embarrassed that I was driving a convertible in a parade and appearing to have no viable reason for doing so. I was there to give any veteran walking a ride but especially there to make sure Larry had a ride.

It has only been the past few years that Larry would accept the ride in the new convertible – he still got out at every stop – still got up the hills for each gun salute – still walked with a girl scout to place a wreath at each war memorial.

In so many ways, Larry personifies his own “Greatest Generation” – please remember him for his military service, and his life of service to our American Veterans.

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A celebration of Larry’s life will be held at the Franklin VFW on Saturday, May 11 from 1-4 p.m. Please dress casually.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his memory to the Tunnel to Towers, 2361 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10306.