Landry celebrates retirement with town's best wishes
By M. Kate Romano Journal Correspondent

Former Town Clerk Wesley Landry shares a story as Select- man Jonathan Dennehy looks on at a retirement party held in Landry's honor on Sunday, Oct. 22 at the Town Hall.

Wesley Landry kept the town's official records for more than 36 years as he served as town clerk.

His friends, family and fellow colleagues honored that work and those years of service at a retirement reception on Sunday, Oct. 22 at the Ashburnham Town Hall.

Linda Ramsdell, Landry's assistant for 20 years and the town's interim town clerk, organized the ceremony and began the presentation. She thanked Landry for all his hard work and mentoring as she begins her role as town clerk.

During the reception, Mr. Landry was honored with many presentations from local and state officials.

Jonathan Dennehy, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, presented Landry with a chair engraved with his name and years of service along with the town seal as a gift from the board.

Dennehy shared that Landry had signed not only his birth certificate, but also his son's birth certificate. He also shared a story about going to Landry's house, at the last minute, to receive his marriage license.

Landry tries out his new chair at his retirement party, which was presented to him by Jonathan Dennehy, from the Ashburnham Board of Selectmen.

State Rep. Robert Rice (D-Gardner) presented Landry with a letter including a citation from the Massachusetts State Senate from state Sen. Stephen Brewer (D-Barre), who could not attend the reception, as well as citation from the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

Westminster Town Clerk Denise MacAloney - representing the Massachusetts Town Clerks Association - joked about how Landry had inquired six years ago about receiving a pin when he reached 30 years of service.

There was no pin for the occasion since not too many town clerks reach that milestone.

She smiled as she presented her first gift, a pin that the association now makes to commemorate 30 years of service. She also presented Landry with a gift from the Massachusetts Town Clerk's Association for his service and dedication to Ashburnham.