Community Events

Robert Palmer was born in Brewster, New York in May 1921. He served in the United States Army from August 1942 to December 1945, achieving the rank of Platoon Sergeant, commanding a sixteen-man gun section. During his service, Robert Palmer earned the American Service Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. Following his World War II service he joined the Railroad, and eventually retired after 41 years with Conrail. A Life Member Of Brewster VFW Post 672, he served for 20 years as Chaplain of the Post.
For 30 years, leading up to each Memorial Day Commemoration, Bob categorized and placed over 1200 hundred flags on the graves of Veterans buried within the town of Southeast – mostly by himself.
In 2012, at the age of 91, Bob decided it was time to have others take over the annual project. To acknowledge his years of work, the “Bob Palmer Project” was begun- not to duplicate his singular effort-but to follow Bob’s intent.
Jack Duncan , a veteran and retired Master Sergeant, was named “Chairmen-Bob Palmer Project”, and with a great team effort our community now places the 1200(+) flags before each Memorial Day, to not only honor and remember our veterans, but to honor Bob Palmer and his commitment to our community and veteran’s.
Typical, the Bob Palmer Project is scheduled for the last Saturday in April, and nicknamed “Bob Palmer Day” to kick off the month’s work leading up to Memorial Day services.

Brewster VFW - Bob Palmer Project Link with listing of Veterans buried in the Brewster/Southeast Area