Norwich VFW announces creation of $97,000 veterans memorial
Principle Design and Engineering of Norwich created a number of designs for the memorial project, with the Norwich VFW ultimately deciding on the memorial above. (Submitted photo)
NORWICH – The Norwich VFW has announced it's in the process of building a $97,000 memorial in front of Post 2782 in an effort to better commemorate the Chenango County veterans who have served overseas in a combat zone.
The memorial will include roughly 700 bluestone bricks, each designated to be dedicated to a veteran of Chenango County, an American flag as well as the flags of each of the military branches, a monument for Norwich High School graduate and Medal of Honor recipient Charles Conway Hartigan, and monuments commemorating the wars in which the United States has been involved.
VFW Post 2782 Commander Joe Santiago said the idea for the project came roughly a year and a half ago as the post was looking for new ways to keep veterans at the forefront in the community.
"At the end of the day, one of the main things that the VFW does is to make sure that the people don't forget our veterans," said Santiago. "At the end of the day, the worst thing that can happen is that society forgets about their veterans. And that's why we have to do this and be creative in today's society."
Funding dependent, Santiago said the hope is for the memorial to be completed by Veterans Day this November so that the post can hold a full dedication to the many local veterans who have fought in a foreign conflict.
"What we do at our organization, in order to be eligible you have to serve overseas somewhere in a combat zone," said Santiago. "So we wanted to try to take that and recognize that in one area, so when you come down East Main Street, you look and can see all the branches flying and you look at all the pavers; every one of those guys in there served in some war, in some capacity, fighting for this country."
Chenango County veterans who have served in a foreign combat zone, or local residents who have immediate family members who have served in a foreign conflict, can purchase a bluestone brick to be included on the memorial for $100. Each brick is roughly 7 1/2 by 9 inches, said VFW Board of Director President Ron Palmer, and will include the name, rank, unit, time and location served, and any special awards received by the veteran. It will also note those who are VFW life members.
"There are circumstances and people out there might not be able to afford a brick. That needs to be brought to our attention as well because we will help those individuals," said Santiago. "The thing we don't want to do is miss them. Nobody who's a combat veteran from Chenango County will be denied. That's the way this whole thing has been designed, so it can grow with combat vets here."
Santiago said it was designed so that there will be room for expansion beyond the initial 700 bricks, allowing the VFW to continue adding dedications to veterans in the event of any future conflicts. If you are interested in having a brick dedicated to yourself or a family member, forms can be obtained at Post 2782. Interested individuals will be asked to provide a copy of their DD 214 as proof of their service.
The memorial was created by Principle Design and Engineering of Norwich. After a few renditions Principle Design created the memorial that will be a fixture at VFW Post 2782, complete with a 700 brick wrap-around monument for local veterans, a monument for NHS graduate Charles Conway Hartigan, who received the Medal of Honor for his service in the Veracruz Battle of 1914, and monuments dedicated to U.S.-involved conflicts, which vary in size depending on the length of the war and number of casualties.
"The whole thing, we wanted to make sure we go slow and make sure we do it right, step by step, and Principle Design has been there the entire time," said Santiago. He also expressed his thanks to Norwich Alvogen, the Herbert H. & Mariea L. Brown Charitable Trust, NBT Bank, the William Raymond Motz Family Trust, Bill & Betsy Cusack, Kathleen & Edward Coates, Ralph Gennis, Elizabeth Mirabito, and Lt. Warren E. Eaton DSC American Legion Post 189 for supporting the project.
Those who would like to donate toward the memorial project can do so at Post 2782 or by mailing funds to the post located at 61 East Main Street in Norwich. On Friday, March 15, the Ryan Clan will perform at the post for a project fundraiser beginning at 8 p.m.
"The cost is up there; could have went with something less, did some other different things, but at the end of the day this is a permanent structure. You want it to be really nice," said Santiago. "At the end of the day, we're all military: we will get it done."
The memorial will include roughly 700 bluestone bricks, each designated to be dedicated to a veteran of Chenango County, an American flag as well as the flags of each of the military branches, a monument for Norwich High School graduate and Medal of Honor recipient Charles Conway Hartigan, and monuments commemorating the wars in which the United States has been involved.
VFW Post 2782 Commander Joe Santiago said the idea for the project came roughly a year and a half ago as the post was looking for new ways to keep veterans at the forefront in the community.
"At the end of the day, one of the main things that the VFW does is to make sure that the people don't forget our veterans," said Santiago. "At the end of the day, the worst thing that can happen is that society forgets about their veterans. And that's why we have to do this and be creative in today's society."
Funding dependent, Santiago said the hope is for the memorial to be completed by Veterans Day this November so that the post can hold a full dedication to the many local veterans who have fought in a foreign conflict.
"What we do at our organization, in order to be eligible you have to serve overseas somewhere in a combat zone," said Santiago. "So we wanted to try to take that and recognize that in one area, so when you come down East Main Street, you look and can see all the branches flying and you look at all the pavers; every one of those guys in there served in some war, in some capacity, fighting for this country."
Chenango County veterans who have served in a foreign combat zone, or local residents who have immediate family members who have served in a foreign conflict, can purchase a bluestone brick to be included on the memorial for $100. Each brick is roughly 7 1/2 by 9 inches, said VFW Board of Director President Ron Palmer, and will include the name, rank, unit, time and location served, and any special awards received by the veteran. It will also note those who are VFW life members.
"There are circumstances and people out there might not be able to afford a brick. That needs to be brought to our attention as well because we will help those individuals," said Santiago. "The thing we don't want to do is miss them. Nobody who's a combat veteran from Chenango County will be denied. That's the way this whole thing has been designed, so it can grow with combat vets here."
Santiago said it was designed so that there will be room for expansion beyond the initial 700 bricks, allowing the VFW to continue adding dedications to veterans in the event of any future conflicts. If you are interested in having a brick dedicated to yourself or a family member, forms can be obtained at Post 2782. Interested individuals will be asked to provide a copy of their DD 214 as proof of their service.
The memorial was created by Principle Design and Engineering of Norwich. After a few renditions Principle Design created the memorial that will be a fixture at VFW Post 2782, complete with a 700 brick wrap-around monument for local veterans, a monument for NHS graduate Charles Conway Hartigan, who received the Medal of Honor for his service in the Veracruz Battle of 1914, and monuments dedicated to U.S.-involved conflicts, which vary in size depending on the length of the war and number of casualties.
"The whole thing, we wanted to make sure we go slow and make sure we do it right, step by step, and Principle Design has been there the entire time," said Santiago. He also expressed his thanks to Norwich Alvogen, the Herbert H. & Mariea L. Brown Charitable Trust, NBT Bank, the William Raymond Motz Family Trust, Bill & Betsy Cusack, Kathleen & Edward Coates, Ralph Gennis, Elizabeth Mirabito, and Lt. Warren E. Eaton DSC American Legion Post 189 for supporting the project.
Those who would like to donate toward the memorial project can do so at Post 2782 or by mailing funds to the post located at 61 East Main Street in Norwich. On Friday, March 15, the Ryan Clan will perform at the post for a project fundraiser beginning at 8 p.m.
"The cost is up there; could have went with something less, did some other different things, but at the end of the day this is a permanent structure. You want it to be really nice," said Santiago. "At the end of the day, we're all military: we will get it done."
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