Veterans Memorial fundraiser concerns aired

By DAN TOMASELLO

LYNNFIELD — A Vietnam War era veteran expressed concerns about an ongoing fundraiser for the new Veterans Memorial during the Select Board’s Oct. 7 meeting.

The Veterans Memorial Committee recently launched a fundraiser that entails accepting applications for inscribed pavers for the new memorial’s walkways as well as inscribed plates for the monument’s benches and pedestal. The fundraiser’s proceeds will be used to help maintain the memorial.

Willard Lane resident Richard Davis said he is a lifelong resident and a Vietnam War era veteran.

“Upon completion of ROTC at Norwich University, I served three years of active duty, primarily in Germany as a signal officer for an artillery battalion,” said Davis.

Davis urged the Select Board to “please stop the sale of the new Lynnfield Veterans War Memorial.”

“Individuals without honorable U.S. military service should not be memorialized within the boundaries of the new Lynnfield Veterans War Memorial,” said Davis. “The War Memorial should be an exclusive dedication to keep the remembrance alive for the service and valor of our veterans. While I feel compassion for the loss of all lives, the prospect of the addition of civilian names, for example, family members or dear friends, is deluding that veteran’s service. Most notable is the payment of up to $10,000 to memorialize non-veterans on the prominent center pedestal and benches that will upstage our veterans.”

Davis said the Veterans Memorial Committee’s mission statement reads in part, “The town of Lynnfield’s War Memorial is a monument to honor the memory of Lynnfield’s men and women who demonstrated a willingness to serve and fight to defend our way of life from all past wars to the present, and the future.”

“It is not in the spirit of the memorial nor does it make common sense to add the names of non-veterans and share the stage on the Veterans Memorial,” said Davis. “I am here to appeal to the Select Board and again to the Veterans War Memorial Committee to rescind the recent offer to sell memory plates for non-veterans. Money should not be a factor enabling shared recognition with veterans. It is misleading to initially raise funds to construct and maintain the memorial for veterans, and now solicit more money by memorializing non-veterans. This will call attention away from veterans.”

Davis also asked the Select Board to prohibit any companies from purchasing pavers and/or plates to advertise their business.

“This includes any form of advertising or commercialization,” said Davis. “Please keep the Veterans War Memorial for veterans. It is never too late to do the right thing.”

Veterans Memorial Committee Chair Joe Connell, who is a 30-year U.S. Army veteran, addressed Davis’ concerns.

“The committee is charged with maintaining the memorial perpetually for the town,” said Connell. “The town’s Veterans Memorial is a place of dignity and reflection, memorializing and paying tribute to veterans and their extended families as well as increasing public awareness.”

Connell said the Veterans Memorial Committee has been reviewing paver purchase applications.

“For example, we would not approve a paver that says Ray’s Auto Painting,” said Connell. “That just wouldn’t happen. In a short period of time, we have sold 45 pavers. That is about $11,250, which will be used in the future to maintain the Veterans Memorial. Usually, after something is built, the following day is a meeting to find out how to care for it in the future and where the money is coming from. We thought of that years ago.”

Connell said 94 percent of the pavers that have been purchased reference a veteran and/or their family.

“That is a good thing because families also serve,” said Connell. “As an example, my wife purchased a paver that states ‘Joe Connell: Husband, father, son, brother.’ If you walked up to that, you would not know I am a veteran.”

Connell also said resident Helen Palizzolo purchased a paver in memory of her late husband, who was a Korean War veteran. He said she purchased the paver to honor him and her family because she wants the community to understand “the stress that she and her extended family went through” while her husband was deployed.

“The entire family supported him,” said Connell.

Connell said residents’ support of the new Veterans Memorial has been “overwhelming.”

“We knew that would happen because there is great patriotism in Lynnfield,” said Connell. “Lynnfield went from 3,000 people in 1950 to over 8,000 in one decade. A lot of people had their parents and grandparents serve from another town, but their family has now lived here for generations. We will start to see those names on the pavers so that they can remember them, which is exactly what we want to have happen. We want people who live in Lynnfield to have their parents and grandparents’ names on the pavers.”

Connell said the Veterans Memorial’s two walkways are “the arms that support the oval and the wall.” He said the oval and the wall are a “sanctuary area.”

“That is why the pavers on the oval are so much bigger as compared to the walkways,” said Connell. “This was done by design to show the clear distinction.”

Connell said, “We do not go to war as an individual or a service branch.”

“We go as a nation, state and towns like Lynnfield,” said Connell. “Without the support of the people of this country, we would not be as successful as veterans. The community deserves to be recognized as well. In many cases, this shows the strength of the town.”

Connell said the Veterans Memorial Committee has raised $78,406 for the new monument.

“We have had 165 people contribute to the Veterans Memorial,” said Connell. “One donor has significantly contributed more than anyone else. Taking that individual out, the average contribution has been $325 per donation.”

Connell said the Veterans Memorial Committee has raised $30,000 from selling plates for the four benches and the pedestal. He said either a veteran or a veteran’s family have purchased all of the plates for the benches and the pedestal.

“We need these funds to maintain this memorial in the future,” said Connell.

Connell said there are “no civilian names” on the Veterans Memorial’s wall.

“But we have to understand that the walkways going in and out are part of the town’s support for the veterans who have fought and died for our country,” added Connell. “We did not go to war alone. We went as a nation.”

Select Board Chair Dick Dalton thanked Davis for his service and for raising his concerns about the Veterans Memorial fundraiser.

“What was recognized early on was it was one thing to build a beautiful monument, but maintaining it over the years had to be allowed,” said Dalton. “I think there is a great balance there and I don’t think it is being commercialized at all. I want to thank Joe and the committee for all of their hard work. I know it has been a labor of love.”

Select Board member Alexis Leahy concurred with Dalton’s viewpoint.

“I like how you have the application process and you are reviewing it,” said Leahy. “That is a stopgap.”

Connell said the Veterans Memorial Committee has been “very fortunate” to have sold 45 pavers to date.

“There is no commercialization whatsoever,” said Connell. “For example, I bought my dad a paver. He grew up in Wakefield and served in Korea. It says, ‘Robert Connell: Korea.’ We are seeing people who live in Lynnfield buying their parents and grandparents a paver even though they grew up somewhere else. It’s the right thing to do because they have been here for generations.”

The new Veterans Memorial will be formally dedicated during a ceremony on Veterans Day, which will take place on Monday, Nov. 11.

Connell stated in a Letter to the Editor published in this week’s Villager that residents can “purchase a paver in honor of anyone who has served.”

“The town of Lynnfield reserves the right to reject any inscription it deems unsuitable,” added Connell.