Thomas Laverty

Thomas Shaun Laverty, age 57, died on Tuesday, February 22, 2005, in his home. Tom was born on July 24, 1947, in the Bronx, New York. He moved to the area in the spring of 2001 after reading an article in Time magazine about Fargo. Tom served in the United States Marine Corps from January 1968 to 1971 when he received an honorable discharge. He was in combat in Vietnam from July 1968 through November 1969. Tom was a Purple Heart recipient and earned the Combat Action Ribbon. He was a member of the VVA for fourteen years. He belonged to the Queens Chapter 32 in New York then transferred to North Dakota Chapter 374 three years ago. Tom was the Chairman of Operation Holidays for the past three years. Operation Holidays is a non-profit Veterans organization dedicated to helping all veterans and their families. Over the years, Operation Holidays has shipped canned goods, board games, writing materials and books to over 1200 troops that were stationed in combat zones overseas. Tom was very active in fundraising. He raised thousands of dollars for Operation Holidays and Mikie?s Place, a playground dedicated to the memory of Mikie Jones-Schreder, located at the School for the Blind in Grand Forks. He was also very active with the Amvets and veterans affairs. Tom was a very kind, generous man, who always did things for others and never expected anything in return. But often joked that if you had 6 winning power ball numbers, he?d take them. Tom will be deeply missed by all of his friends. In memory of Tom, memorials may be sent to: Operation Holidays, PO Box 10446, Fargo, ND 58106. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 26, 2005, in Boulger Funeral Home. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens, Fargo. Arrangements entrusted to Boulger Funeral Home, Fargo. Online guestbook available at www.boulgerfuneralhome.com