The Rotary Club of Enfield is honoring Enfield’s veterans by sponsoring military tribute banners that will be displayed in Higgins Park, the Town Green, Freshwater Walkway, North Main Street and Hazardville between Memorial Day and Veterans Day in 2026 and 2027. The Enfield Public Library partnered with Enfield Rotary to preserve digital versions of these banners as well as biographical information about each veteran.
Edwina King Gorman
United States navy 1943-1945
World War II
PO3
American Campaign medal
WWII Victory medal
Edwina was born May 28, 1920, the 3rd girl of the 5 girls born to her father and mother. Her father was a potato farmer in Orient Point Long Island, NY. Her father wouldn't let any of his 5 daughters work on the farm. At the age of 23 and didn't have a job or a driver's license she decides to join the Navy.
She was stationed at the Brooklyn Navy Hospital at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, New York City on September 15, 1943. She met her future husband when there were 3 Navy Waves walking on a sidewalk and across the street there were 3 Coast Guard sailors walking on the other side. The sailors crossed the street and asked the Navy Wives if they would like to go to the moves. They all went to the movies, and they all stayed friends and 2 out of the 3 couples got married.
My mother and father married on September 9, 1944, in Orient Point L.I. NY. When she was released from active duty on June 19, 1945, at the end of WWII she held the rank of Pharmacist Mate 3rd class. Awards earned were the American Campaign Metal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Metal and the World War II Metal.
By the way, she never had a driver's license until sometime after we moved to Enfield in 1955.
