Members of Hudson VFW Post 5791 and its Auxiliary hosted the annual Loyalty Day and Scholastic Awards Ceremony on Friday evening, May 1, recognizing several area residents for their contributions to the community.
Post member Daniel Barthelemy served as emcee for the event and explained that Loyalty Day is observed annually on May 1. It is a special holiday dedicated to reaffirming loyalty to the United States and recognizing the heritage of American freedom. The observance was first recognized on May 1, 1955, by President Dwight D. Eisenhower and later established as an official recurring holiday through Public Law on July 18, 1958.
The first award of the evening went to eighth-grade student Emily Barthelemy of Presentation of Mary Academy, who earned first place in the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest. Participants were required to write a 300- to 400-word essay on the theme, “How are you showing patriotism and support for your country?” Emily received a $500 award for her submission.
In the Voice of Democracy audio-essay program, which gives high school students the opportunity to present recorded essays on the same theme, the top three winners were recognized with certificates and monetary awards. First-place winner Jaclyn Krisciunas was unable to attend but received $250. Gabriel Brandt placed second, and Reese Rossi finished third.
The first Loyalty Award of the evening was presented to Jacob Marinis, a Londonderry Scout from Troop 252. Nominated by Chris Funk, Jacob was recognized for his consistent commitment to service and his willingness to help others. He actively contributes to the St. Mark’s parish community by assisting with faith formation classes and serving as a crew leader for Vacation Bible School. As Senior Patrol Leader since last August, he has led Troop 252 through monthly planning sessions and weekly meetings.
Hudson Civil Engineer Don Kirland was also honored for his outstanding service to the town since being hired in October 2020. He was recognized for his professionalism, technical expertise, and dedication to public service. Kirland plays a key role in protecting the town’s environmental and infrastructure interests, overseeing landfill compliance and contributing to MS4 permit compliance by guiding stormwater management practices that meet state and federal standards. He resides in Derry with his wife, Sandra, and their son, Alex.
Two members of the Hudson Police Department were also recognized. Master Patrol Officer Shane Grayson and Officer Kody Palladino, nominated by Lt. Matt Flynn, were honored for their persistent and highly skilled investigative work in identifying and exposing a New York City-based organized retail theft operation. Through extensive investigative efforts-including search warrants, witness interviews, and analysis of GPS and other technological data-they helped identify multiple suspects, leading to criminal charges and additional warrants.
Detective Nicholas Collishaw of the Hudson Police Department was also honored. In his nomination, Captain Steven McElhinney cited Collishaw’s proactive work with the Special Investigations Bureau and the department’s Narcotics Unit in disrupting the flow of illegal narcotics into the community. In addition to his law enforcement service, Collishaw has served in the United States Army National Guard since 2008 and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2013. He currently holds the rank of Sergeant First Class with the 195th Regional Training Institute.
The next award was presented to Captain Kyle Levesque of the Hudson Fire Department. Nominated by Fire Chief Scott Tice, Levesque was recognized for his dedication and professionalism. Tice noted that Levesque continually seeks to improve both himself and the department through ongoing education, including conferences and webinars. He also participates in Emergency Medical Services initiatives at the state and national levels and previously led the Professional Firefighters of Hudson “Fill the Boot” campaign for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Sue Sawyer was honored for her longstanding commitment as a mathematics teacher at Alvirne High School. Principal Steven Beals praised her more than 30 years of dedication, highlighting her consistency, fairness, and willingness to support students. He also noted her contributions as a cross-country and track coach, emphasizing her ability to build team culture while encouraging individual achievement. Sawyer is also set to be inducted into the Alvirne Hall of Fame as both an alumna and staff member.
Auxiliary President Kristy Baillargeon presented the Auxiliary Member Award to David McGilvray for his consistent support at post events. McGilvray, the current chaplain, has been a member since 2021.
To conclude the ceremony, Post Commander Chuck Chapman presented the Post Member Award to Daniel Barthelemy. Quartermaster Mike Dustin was also recognized for his years of service to the post and was presented with a gift card.