Monday, 29 September 2025
12:30PM
Wallingford, CT — After decades of tireless dedication to Connecticut’s veterans and their families, Valhalla MC Connecticut (VMCC) will host one final event before closing their chapter. The “End of an Era Blow Out Party” will take place on Sunday, October 5, 2025, from 1–5 PM at The Gathering Place, 99 East St, Wallingford, CT.
This farewell event will feature live music, raffles, a full buffet, and an afternoon of celebration with the community they have faithfully served. Admission is $15 to cover costs, with proceeds going toward winter programs supporting local veterans and their families. VMCC will also continue collecting toys with CMRA for local children, as well as supporting Stand Down and Christmas at Rocky Hill in the months ahead.
Valhalla MC Connecticut has been a cornerstone of veteran support for decades. They were the first motorcycle club to escort the Arlington Cemetery Wreaths Across America convoy from Maine to Arlington, setting the example for others to follow. They were also the first to support Connecticut’s Wreaths Across America initiative at the State Veterans Cemetery in Middletown, installing and retrieving flags for Memorial Day and Veterans Day, and fundraising to ensure every veteran’s grave received a wreath. Beyond these public efforts, VMCC quietly supported veterans at the Rocky Hill Veterans Home with collection drives for bottled water, toiletries, and other essential needs — never seeking recognition or fanfare.
Capt. J. Sanborn, who coordinated Connecticut’s Wreaths Across America program from 2012 to 2021, has credited VMCC’s dedication and consistency as instrumental to the success of the program statewide.
“What set Valhalla MC apart was their commitment to action — they always stepped up first,” said Sanborn. “Whether it was wreaths, flags, fundraisers, or caring for veterans in Rocky Hill, they never asked for attention. They just did what needed to be done.”
Local veterans and families also shared their appreciation. Marine veteran Tom H. recalled, “Valhalla MC has always been there, quietly making sure every detail was handled so we could honor our comrades. Their support meant the world to us and our families.” Mary L., whose father resides at the Rocky Hill Veterans Home, added, “They think of everything — from small comforts to big gestures. Our veterans felt seen and appreciated because of VMCC.”
This final event offers the public a chance to thank the members of VMCC for their years of service and celebrate the impact they’ve had on Connecticut’s veteran community.
Event Details:
- Event: Valhalla MC “End of an Era Blow Out Party”
- Date: Sunday, October 5, 2025
- Time: 1–5 PM
- Location: The Gathering Place, 99 East St, Wallingford, CT 06492
- Admission: $15 (includes buffet)
Hosted by: John “Maddog” Scanlon, MaryEllen Attardo & Jackie DeMaine
Join us as we celebrate Valhalla MC Connecticut’s remarkable legacy and give them the thanks they deserve for over a decade of selfless service to Connecticut’s veterans.
Media Contact:
Connecticut Veterans Bulletin
ctvetsbulletin.org
I am not a veteran. I am a member of the Civil Air Patrol, the United States Air Force Auxiliary. But in 1991, personal loss brought me to a place I never left.
Over two decades later, that loss led me to the State Veterans Cemetery in Middletown, Connecticut, where I took on the coordination of Wreaths Across America — which grew into the largest and fastest growing veterans program in the state. I didn’t do it for recognition. I did it for them.
In 2016 I founded the Connecticut Veterans Bulletin. Not because I served, but because I believe those who did deserve to be honored, connected, and kept alive.
Twenty-two veterans die by suicide every day. I knew about that number before it became a hashtag. I knew it personally, long before anyone was talking about it.
This publication exists because that number is unacceptable. Because every veteran in Connecticut deserves to know someone gives a damn.
That someone is me.