It gives us great pleasure to inform Salem that Gary Closius was selected by the Salem Lions Club as Salem’s Humanitarian of the Year for 2023. The Salem Lions recognized his volunteering that supports the Town of Salem. His work — with the Salem Boy Scouts, Adventure Crew, the Special Olympics, Care and Share of East Lyme, Salem Senior Citizen’s, Salem Green Cemetery, and the Friends of the Salem Library Book Sale over the past 15-plus years — was not unnoticed.

The District 23C Lions Club held a banquet dinner on Jan. 22 at the St. Clements Castle in Portland, Conn., to celebrate the selected recipients of the Humanitarian Award from local Lions Clubs.

At the banquet, the district then recognized one of the Humanitarians for outstanding voluntarism. The person is selected at the international level to receive recognition and receive a Melvin Jones Award, the highest honor from the Lions International Club. Gary was recognized for this honor

Thank you, Gary, for your volunteer support to the Town of Salem, and congratulations on being honored by the District 23C Lions Club as its 2023 Melvin Jones Award!

John Houchin is the secretary of the Salem Lions Club.