Edward Stanley Banas, Sr.

Edward S. Banas, Sr., husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, police officer, businessman, Vietnam veteran and past national Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the nation’s oldest veteran’s organization, died May 13, 2026 following a courageous battle with cancer.  He was 79.

Ed was born May 15, 1946, the son of Stanley and Anna (Wrubel) Banas, both parents pre-deceased.

A Norwich native and 1964 graduate of Norwich Free Academy, enlisting in the U.S. Army the following year.  He served in the 66th Military Police Company, 18th Military Police Brigade in Qui Nhon Vietnam from 1966-67.  Near the end of his service, Ed volunteered to be a gunner on medical helicopters through the 87th Evac Hospital unit.  Upon discharge, Ed joined the Norwich Police Department, leaving the force after 14 years to open his own uniform store.

Ed’s dedication to advocating on behalf of veterans was his pride and joy.  He joined the VFW while still on active duty in 1967.  He was not just a member of the Jewett City Post 10004, he served in nearly every capacity on the local and state level of the organization and advocating on behalf of veterans for more than 30 years.  He served as post commander, earning honors on the district level as All-American District Commander and state Department Commander from 1993-94.  The members of the Jewett City post have recently voted to rename the post in his honor as recognition of his service.

In 2003 he was elected the national Commander-in-Chief, becoming only the second Connecticut veteran to lead the organization in its 127-year history.

Ed traveled the country and world as the official representative of America’s veterans and the VFW, including ceremonies marking the 50th anniversary of the end of the Korean Conflict in Seoul, South Korea, the dedication of the WWII Memorial in Washington, DC, made two trips to Vietnam pressing the Vietnamese government on the issue of POW/MIA’s, opening relations with the Soviet Brotherhood, the Russian version of the VFW and persuading the Russian government to open it’s archives to families whose loved ones who have been missing for decades.  But the two places that made the biggest impact with him were visits to Walter Reed Hospital where he had heartfelt meetings with wounded Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and Arlington National Cemetery, which he described as “the resting place of America’s heroes.”

When asked how he felt about being elected Commander-in-Chief, Ed replied with his familiar phrase, “Not bad for a Polish kid from Norwich, Connecticut.”

Ed is survived by his wife Sandra, his five children Julie (Frank) Grande, Monica Banas, Andrea (Trent) Koukol, Edward Banas, Jr. and Ashley Banas, grandchildren Victoria,  Zackary (Nicole), Nickolas, Jackson-Koukol, Makayla, Edward Banas III, and Trevor Banas, great grandchildren Myla and Olivia, extended family James and Renee Liska, Matthew Robichaud and Judy Page, Evan and Nolan Liska and his Morky-Lily Mae.

He was predeceased by his sister Frances and brother-in-law Raymond Grenier.

Calling hours will be held 4:00-6:00PM Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at the Gagne Piechowski Funeral Home 490 Voluntown Road Jewett City, CT.  A Graveside service will be held 11:00AM, Thursday, May 21, 2026, at St. Joseph Cemetery, Norwich,CT with military honors.

For online condolences please go to www.gagnefuneralhome.com

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