- Details
- Category: Current Issue
captions, page 1:
The grand foyer in the Putnam Municipal Complex has taken on a patriotic tone. More photos on page 4. Linda Lemmon photos
captions, page 4:
Top: The wide view. Left: the Putnam gnomes. Above: The tax collector's window.
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — In a beautiful display of patriotism the Putnam Municipal Complex’s grand foyer took on a distinctive red, white and blue look.
The display includes bunting in the front window and across the top of the round Putnam logo on the wall, a Putnam veterans “wall,” the “Putnam gnomes,” flags and a solemn remembrance of veterans who have passed.
It was created in time for Memorial Day, will run through October.
Once again, Shannon O’Shea was the creative force behind the display. Contributors included Sue Ramos, Sara Seney, Delpha Very, plus Melissa Alden, Jackie Lefevre, Priscilla Colwell and Mayor Barney Seney.
O’Shea said Mayor Seney asked that veterans be incorporated so a stark white cutout of a veteran kneeling at a grave cross was created. O’Shea’s husband Patrick did the cutout work. This is for Memorial Day.
O’Shea also had the idea to create a Putnam version of the famous “Moving Wall”. She has listed all the Putnam veterans, past and present, on this wall. Active service members are not listed. It is specifically for veterans.
So far, there are 1,032 names on the wall. She worked with Town Clerk Sara Seney to find names. But she is sure there are other names out there. If you check the wall in the grand foyer and find that a Putnam veteran’s name is missing, contact Shannon O’Shea in the Tax Collector’s Office.
As for the Putnam gnomes, they pop up in every display. Their costumes may change but they’re always there.
Memorial Day Listings
EASTFORD
Parade starts at 9:30 a.m. at the Eastford Elementary School. Immediately following the parade, a Memorial Day Ceremony will take place at the Veteran’s Memorial. Preceding the parade, Memorial Day services will take place at the General Lyon Cemetery at 8:30 a.m. and the Grove Cemetery at 9 a.m. In the event of rain, the parade will be cancelled and the Memorial Day Ceremony will be held at 9:30 a.m. in the school. All are welcome to attend.
POMFRET
The Town of Pomfret will be holding its annual Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 30 starting at 10 a.m. This year’s parade kicks off at the Pomfret Congregational Church and proceeds down Pomfret Street/Rt. 44 to the Town Green where a short ceremony will take place. Come early to get a good spot on the parade route for this family-fun annual event!
PUTNAM
The town’s Memorial Day observance will take place starting with a parade stepping off from Grove Street at 10 a.m. and ending with a memorial program at Rotary Park. In case of inclement weather, notification will be on WINY 1350 AM the morning of the parade. The parade marshal will be Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, Michael Therrien, a Desert Storm veteran who served four years in Iraq at Balad Air Force Base. To accommodate older and disabled veterans who wish to be in the parade, transportation will be available by calling parade Chairman Buster Corey at (860) 382-6711. The keynote address at the program at Rotary Park will be given by Vietnam veteran Richard Tremblay, U.S. Marine Corps. The traditional wreath laying and military tributes at Putnam cemeteries, bridges and monuments will be conducted by a National Guard firing squad plus officers and color guards from the American Legion and VFW starting at 10 a.m. May 29.
THOMPSON
Thompson’s Memorial Day Parade will step off at 9 a.m. from the Town Hall on Riverside Drive. The parade will continue to Main Street and loop back around to Riverside Drive stopping at the Oscar Swanson Veteran’s Park for remembrance remarks. Following the parade there will be a special memorial ceremony about 10:30 a.m. at the East Thompson Cemetery on East Thompson Road. Festivities will conclude with a luncheon at the VFW Post on Quinebaug Road.
WOODSTOCK
8:15 a.m. Buses leave Palmer Arboretum with American Legion details. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts to meet clergy at cemeteries to provide honors and go to these cemeteries: Elmvale and Bradford-Marcy; East Woodstock and Bungay; North Woodstock and Barlow; Center and Quasset; Woodstock Hill and Roseland Park. At 11 a.m. parade musters near Inn at Woodstock Hill and Woodstock Orchards to Common. 11:30 a.m. Parade Steps Off; 11:45 to 12:30 p.m. Military Flyover; 11:45 A.M.; Memorial Services at Woodstock Hill Common (includes Invocation by Kevin Downer; Welcome: Glenn Boies, CDR, Post 111; Special Greetings: Introduction of the Woodstock Board of Selectmen and Welcome by 1st Selectman Jay Swan; Concert Selection: East Woodstock Cornet Band; WMS Essay Contest Winner: Samantha Smyth; Firefighter of the Year Award: TBA; Honored Guest Speaker: Owen Bland; Concert Selection: East Woodstock Cornet Band; Wreath Laying: Woodstock Girl Scouts; Rifle Salute: American Legion, Post 111; Taps: TBA; National Anthem: All; Benediction: Kevin Downer. In the event of inclement weather, ceremonies will be held at the Woodstock Academy Field House. All welcome. Free Parking courtesy of the Inn at Woodstock Hill. Info: www.woodstockCT.gov.
WOODSTOCK - RACE
The 40th annual Memorial Day 10K race will start at 9 a.m. May 30 from the Woodstock Academy Fieldhouse. The 2022 theme is “On the Road Again,” to celebrate the return of a beloved community event. Race day registration is from 7:30 to 8:45 a.m. at the Woodstock Academy Fieldhouse Gymnasium. $35 registration fee (portion of proceeds will be donated to the Woodstock Fuel Assistance Program.) Male & female divisions: Child (12 & under), Junior (13-19), Intermediate (20-29), Senior (30-39), Masters (40-49), Grand Master (50-59), Ultra Master (60-69) and Super Masters (70 & up) Awards: Medals for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place runners in each division. Participants can register online at https://runsign up.com/race/ct/woodstock/woodstockmemorialday10k
.