Plan for vet
park done
PUTNAM — Plans for the renovation of the Veterans Memorial Park show a complete reworking of the walkways, lighting, flagpole area, space for new monuments honoring veterans and more.
The proposed site plan from the town’s Land Use Department shows straightened walkways, space for future monuments, lighting for each monument and a reworking of the American flag area.
Already done is the 6-foot white vinyl fence along the parking lot of the Congregational B’nai Shalom parking lot. A ramp there will allow wheelchair access from the parking lot. The emblems of the six branches of the U.S. military would be placed on the fence.
According to the site plan, walking from the east, there would be the tree from the Daughters of the American Revolution dedicated to General Washington (the original one in town died).  Then there would be memorials to the town’s WWI veterans, then a public platform for ceremonies (in front of the white fence), then the memorial dedicated to the town’s WWII veterans, Following that would be the Korea, Vietnam and Beirut monuments before starting the circle around the flagpole area. Then there would be monuments to the town’s Desert Storm and OIF/OEF veterans.
All monuments would have their own dedicated lighting for dim environment viewing.
The approach to the flag pole from the south would be a straight paved walkway for ceremonial access to the flags, and the entire flagpole, inside of the paved walkway, would be paved with bricks purchased by residents dedicated to the honorable remembrance of a veteran’s service, regardless of their living status or location status. That fund-raiser continues. Contact the Town Hall for more information.
The flagpole might be a “T” shaped pole (called a Yardarm pole), distinguishing it from other flagpoles in town, as these styles are usually on military bases and associated with veterans.  The flags would have their own dedicated lighting.
At the intersection of Church and Bridge streets there will be a V-shaped park sign so from any direction there is no doubt it is the Veterans Memorial Park.
Members of the town’s Veterans Advisory Committee last fall garnered a coveted assignment of Harvard H. Ellis Tech students to begin work this spring. The students taking part are from the masonry and electrical departments.

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