Community Corner
Names Being Collected To Add To The Misunderstood Monument
Memorial Honors ALL Clinton Residents Who Have Served
The meaning of the War Memorial which sits in front of Andrews Memorial Town Hall has been misunderstood for years. At the same time, names are being taken to add to the monument, which means that unless clarification is made some names might be omitted.
Many of us assume that the War Memorial lists only names of servicemen and women who died during the wars. It is not.
Explains First Selectman Willie Fritz, “It’s the town’s way of honoring those who have served our country over the years – those who are living and those who have passed away and those who gave their life during service.”
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Leonard Walter, a member of the VFW, the American Legion, and the Clinton Veterans Affairs Committee added, “You only have to be a member of the armed services from Clinton. You don’t have to be dead or anything or killed in the service. You just have to come from Clinton.”
According to Commander John L. Neri, "The monument was proposed by the Order of Redmen No. 77 of Clinton, made up of many organizations intermingled who, as one body, made this a tribute to all who served in the protection of our country and to those who did not return. There were members from the American Legion, Board of Selectmen, Fire and Police Departments and Townspeople who attended a special town meeting on June 20, 1945 and the original plans for the memorial were changed by a vote of the townspeople to place it in front of the Andrews Memorial Town Hall for all to see. All who entered the service from Clinton during World War I and World War II would be inscribed on the monument."
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"Those who gave their lives in WWI (Henry Kozlik, Giles F. Stevens and Howard G. Hilliard) and WWII (Edward J. Burnes, Richard H. Jones, Peter B. Malchiodi and Harry G. Morgan) were inscribed in a place of honor on the front of the monument," Neri added.
The monument is maintained by the town. A small group of veterans are appointed to oversee any needed improvements and changes.
Currently, names are being collected to add to the monument. This will be the third time the monument has been updated.
“We work with the Veteran’s Committee, the VFW and the American Legion and try to make sure nobody is left out,” explained Fritz who added, “We’re getting to a point where we’re going to add names to the monument that we just finished restoring and expanding, and we’d like people to submit names if they have served and are residents of Clinton so we can get them on there.”
According to Walter, who serves on the committee which supervised the new wings, “The main thing we’re trying to do is get more veterans who haven’t signed up so we can get it on the monument.”
New wings were added because the original monument was filled.
Walter pointed out, “You can’t update it too often because it’s quite a project and expensive too. They get about $70 to $75 a name!”
After the names are collected, stencils are made. Next, the letters are sandblasted into the granite.
“It’s quite a procedure,” Walter said.
So far, approximately 50 names have been collected to add this spring.
"The new addition to the monument was first proposed in 2004 by the American Legion and VFW. Members of the Veterans Advisory Committee presented the idea to the Selectmen along with a painting of an updated monument with the addition of side tablets (wings) as conceived by Len Walter and Art Scheld," explained Neri.
"In 2007 the veterans again requested that the town go forward with plans to expand the monument and the design was agreed upon and Mr. Lally of Shumack Engineering & Construction erected the addition sometime between late 2009 and early 2010," he said.
"The American Legion has conducted Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day services in conjunction with the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Clinton Public Schools and Townspeople in front of the monument each year including the laying of a wreath/flowers," informed Neri.
Many have worked to bring this to a conclusion.
"Members of the Historical Society helped with the history of the monument (thanks to Mr. Ted Neely who gave freely of his time). With the help of many we hope to provide a place to honor those men and women who entered the military service from Clinton," he said.
The deadline for veterans to have their names inscribed on the monument is April 7, 2011. Please contact Commander John L. Neri (860) 669-8333. Please include dates of service, branch, full name (please spell the names…this WILL be carved in stone) address and phone number. Servicemen/women must have been Clinton residents at the time they entered the armed services.