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Two huge granite monuments were installed Aug. 5 at Veterans Park. The plaques with the WWII veterans' names on them are coming. Linda Lemmon photo.

Veterans
Park takes
giant step
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — Veterans Park is starting down the home stretch with the installation of two granite monuments dedicated to WWII.
And completion of the Veterans Park is just the beginning of a respect campaign for veterans – with more in the future.
Aug. 5 H.A. Leo Crane Service of Webster lifted Mercer Monument’s two 6,100-pound monuments into place. They are blank for now, waiting for their plaques containing all the names of Putnam residents who fought in WWII.
Mayor Barney Seney said members of the Veterans Advisory Committee, at its next meeting Aug. 13 will go over the list of those names. Then the list is sent to Mercer who will create the plaques.
The three remaining monuments — for Desert Storm, Afghanistan and Operation Freedom — will also be created by Mercer. The goal is to have all the monuments in place for the park’s dedication ceremony on Nov. 10.
Mercer Monuments, he said, is just one of many businesses and organizations that have donated services or materials or funds to the revitalization of Veterans Park.
The Finish the Bricks campaign stands at almost 1,500. The goal is 2,000 engraved bricks sold honoring veterans.
Seney said after the 2,000 goal is hit and they are installed, most around the flagpole in Veterans Park, the committee won’t be sitting on its laurels. He said veterans banners are on the agenda and the next big project is to address issues with veterans’ graves in the town’s cemeteries.
“We hope to fix any (veterans) stones — put them back together or address any issues,” Seney said.

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