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.

Phillip LaRussa

United States army air force 1942-1945

world war ii

WWII victory medal

american campaign ribbon

Phillip (“Phil”) Peter LaRussa was born in East Thomas, AL into a large family. As a child, he and his family moved to Thompsonville. He graduated from Enfield High School. Mr. LaRussa joined the Army Air Corps in 1942 to see the world…but ended up being stationed in the Midwest. It was there where he met and married his wife Darleen (West) and started their family. He returned to Enfield in 1952 and worked with his brothers at D.F. LaRussa's store in Windsor Locks until 1962. He then bought a house in Hazardville and went on to work at Spaulding's in Chicopee for 20 years before retiring in 1982.