WINDHAM – More than 200 people gathered in the Windham Veterans Center’s Memorial Garden on Veterans Day to observe the dedication of a granite bench to honor Stuart “Toby” Pennels, the Casco man who died in September as a result of injuries from a motorcycle accident.

Pennels, a retired U.S. Army colonel with 30 years of military service, was in the midst of running for the District 26 state Senate seat when he crashed his motorcycle near Rangeley on Aug. 3. He died of his injuries on Sept. 4.

Pennels, who served two tours in Iraq and in a peacekeeping mission to Yugoslavia in the 1990s, became the president of the Windham Veterans Association in 2012. The group is responsible for maintaining the Windham Veterans Center, where the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion meet. The two veterans’ associations joined forces to purchase the granite bench in honor of Pennels.

After holding the annual Veterans Day program inside the center Tuesday, officials from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10643 and American Legion Field-Allen Post 148 held a ceremony to dedicate the 5-foot long, three-piece bench.

“This is a solemn and poignant occasion, one we shall long remember,” said Willie Goodman, commander of VFW Post 10643. “The granite bench behind me is dedicated to Toby as a permanent reminder of his service to our country and his leadership in the Windham Veterans Association.”

Pennels’ wife, Brenda, spoke at the dedication about her husband’s martial approach to life.

“Although Toby wore many hats throughout his life – he was a son, a husband, a father, a Rotarian, a school board member, and an investment advisor – the one title that really defined who Toby was, and the one that I first fell in love with in 1980, was soldier.”

Pennels’ also recalled her husband’s infatuation with the phrase, “Always improve your position.”

“I love this phrase. It brings me back to UMASS ROTC in 1980 where I first met Toby and we were taught the basics of how to dig a proper foxhole,” she said. “The premise is that the longer you stay in a fighting position, the better it should be – bigger and deeper with increased cover, concealment and improved fields of fire. Toby took this simple idea and carried it with him throughout his life. He truly believed it was always possible to do a little more, to do something a little better, to improve your position.”

The couple celebrated their 30th anniversary at the center in June 2013, Pennels said. Pennels said she would occasionally join her husband on his frequent trips to the center.

“I would sometimes visit this garden while I waited for him to finish his business,” she recalled. “In the years to come, I know that we will all be here for many more events, and when you do come, I ask that you take a moment to visit this garden, sit on his bench, and remember the love that Toby had for his family, his community and his country.”

With veterans, from left, Roger Timmons, Mel Greenier and David Tanguay watching, Brenda Pennels, wife of the late Toby Pennels, remembered her husband’s service during Tuesday’s Veterans Day ceremony in Windham. At Standish American Legion Post 128’s Veterans Day event on Tuesday morning, Service Officer Bruce Roubo, and his wife, Meredith Roubo, president of Standish Ladies Auxiliary, laid a memorial wreath while Legion members salute.