By SANDY McGEE

WOONSOCKET — Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy made a special visit Monday morning to the Oakland Grove Health Care Center to recognize a local veteran of the “Greatest Generation.” 

Kennedy presented eight different military service awards to 86-year-old Louis Foisy, a Navy veteran of World War II and resident of the Oakland Grove Health Care Center on Cumberland Hill Road.
“You (Foisy) and your family should be proud of your service to your country,” Kennedy said. “People like you saved this country from tyranny. You saved it for democracy. Without people like you, our country would be a very different place today…
“These memorabilia and keepsakes are very important because they represent history … Your grandson and his children will one-day look at these medals and say they had a member of their family serve in the ‘Greatest Generation.’”
The congressman presented Foisy with the following service awards: the World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Medal with 14 stars, honorable discharge lapel pin, the Navy honorable discharge button, the Navy Occupation Service Medal with Asia clasp, Combat Action Ribbon and the Navy Unit Commendation.
“They are beautiful,” said Foisy when the medals were displayed before him.
“I’m happy for him,” said his wife and Cumberland native, Gertrude Foisy. “I’m proud.”
Along with his wife, Foisy’s daughter and grandson attended last week’s award presentation held at the Oakland Grove Health Care Center.
“It is a great honor for him,” said Foisy’s grandson, Desi Vega of Holyoke, Mass. “It’s a very nice thing to do for him. There are so many veterans who are still not recognized for their service.”
Veterans, who are residents of Oakland Grove Health Care Center, also attended the presentation and congratulated Foisy for his awards.
Born in August 1921 in Webster, Mass., Foisy lived in Worcester for many years and in Oxford, Mass., for more than 35 years. He was a longtime employee of United Screw Inc., working as a machinist.
Foisy served in the Navy from 1942 to 1945, attaining the rank of gunner’s mate 3rd class. He was employed as a machinist during his military service.
He served at the Newport Naval Base and aboard the U.S.S. Santa Fe, a vessel nicknamed “The Lucky Lady” due to its ability to avoid damage in battle. The vessel was also used to rescue many sailors and victims of sinking ships.
Foisy and his wife have been married for 61 years. They are the parents of an adult daughter, Madeline Vega of Sutton, and the grandparents of Desi Vega.