by Bea Peterson
Ed O’Malley was a WW II Army veteran from Hoosick Falls. More than once he told people he wished veterans of his era had a bronze plaque in Wood Park like the WW I veterans have. It’s too late for Ed and many of his comrades to see such plaques. Age is catching up with the 16 million World War II veterans, and they are passing on at a rate of a thousand a day. Ed can rest assured, however, that his community will remember him and the valiant Hoosick and Hoosick Falls veterans who have served their country. Plans are currently underway to collect the names of all the Town and Village residents who have been in the military in war time and in peace time.
WW II Names Already Collected
Charlie Filkins and Phil Leonard, on behalf of the Hoosick Historical Society, have compiled a list of more than 850 local WW II veterans. They have published a book with those names in it. “Tracking down the World War two veterans is fairly complete,” said Leonard. “It’s the veterans after that, Korea and Vietnam and the other wars that are going to be difficult.”
Bronze PlaqueNow that the brick walls on either side of the WW I memorial are in place, thought can be given to the bronze plaques to be placed on them. Each wall will hold three plaques, a large one and two smaller ones.
The large plaques on either side of the WW I memorial will hold the names of the WW II veterans as that will be the longest list of names. The other plaques will hold the names of veterans who served in peace time and those who fought in Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Granada, Iraq, Afghanistan and any other conflict.
Criteria
For a name to be placed on the memorial plaques the man or woman must have received any type of honorable discharge from the military. The veteran must have been a resident of the Town or Village at the time he or she joined the service. Veterans who have been residents of the Town or Village for at least 15 years or have been a member of the Hoosick American Legion or VFW for at least 15 years are also eligible to have their names included.
Forms Available
All eligible veterans from all branches of the service (or a member of their family) are encouraged to complete a form available in the Hoosick Falls Village Clerk’s Office or the Town of Hoosick Clerk’s Office. World War II veterans or members of their family should check the list compiled by the Historical Society, also available in the Clerks’ offices. If the name is on that list, it will automatically be placed on the plaque.
Family members are encouraged to see that the name of their loved one is on a plaque. Many Vietnam era veterans, for example, were treated so shabbily when they returned home, they are reluctant to step forward. Their valiant and often heroic efforts should not be forgotten. Nor should the efforts of those who have served in battles since and those who are serving now.
“Many people joined the military not knowing if they would have to serve in a war or not,” said Memorial Committee Member Jerry McAuliffe. “They should be recognized as well.”
Information required on the form includes name, address, date of birth, branch of service, rank, years served and, if a combat veteran, what war or conflict. The completed forms should be sent to Hoosick Veterans Memorial, Post Office Box 536, Hoosick Falls, NY, 12090.
Bronze Costly
So far volunteers, contributions from various businesses and from the Reynolds Foundation and the Walter A. Wood High School Alumni have kept the project moving along. Bronze plaques are expensive, costing thousands of dollars. Once a deadline has been set for collecting names, then a fund raising effort will be undertaken to pay for those plaques. In the meantime, if anyone cares to make a contribution toward the plaques they can do so by sending a check to the Hoosick Veterans Memorial at the above post office box.
The Hoosick Veterans Memorial committee consists of Robert Becker, Kate Bradley, Stan Brownell, Marilyn Douglas, Jerry McAuliffe, Laura Reynolds and Walt Zwinge.