by Bea Peterson
On Friday, November 11 (11/11/11) American Legion Post #40 and the members of the Veterans Wall Committee dedicated the new Veterans Memorial Wall in Wood Park. The event started at 11 am with the placing of wreaths in front of the new bronze plaques by veterans Ike Powers, Ed Gorman, Ben Nowik Frank Wilwol, Harold Bowen and Jim Cutler.
It was a blustery day and when the flag was raised on the new pole by American Legion Commander Walter Zwinge, it unfurled in all its glory. An invocation was read by Legion Chaplain Keith McCart. Committee member Bea Peterson welcomed the several hundred people that attended the event and, in place of member Phil Leonard, who had laryngitis, read the history of the wall.
“The Star Spangled Banner” and “God Bless America” were sung by Dave Sutton. The HFCS Symphonic Band played two pieces. The first was “Images of Ireland,” a medley of Irish tunes. Band Director Rob Allen said this was a nod to all the support the band receives at St. Patrick’s Day events.
The second piece was “Hymn to the Fallen,” by John Williams, from the movie Saving Private Ryan. Allen said he was profoundly affected by the movie and finally had an inkling of what it meant to serve in a war.
Pastor Mike Benoit asked a blessing for those from Hoosick who died in combat. Commander Zwinge read the names of the 34 and a bell was tolled as each name was read. A volley was fired and taps was played by Rich McNally. Benediction was said by Pastor Dale Hall.
Wall History
The World War I memorial was dedicated on November 11, 1924. There is a marker in Wood Park already dedicated to the veterans of WW II and the wars that followed. There are no names on it. Committee members Jerry McAuliffe and Bob Becker conceived the idea for the addition to the World War I memorial in 2007. In 2008 they approached the Legion and the Village with specifications for brick walls with bronze plaques. Ground was broken that July. Contractors and funds were solicited. In April 2009 the masonry wall and cap were erected. Ten thousand dollars had been raised and used at that point.
In June 2010 the Committee expanded. The Historical Society became the lead organization, accepted donations and collected veterans names. Using a 1945 issue of the Standard Press and the large wooden board with names that was set up in Wood Park during WW II,
Phil Leonard and Charlie Filkins reviewed those names. Getting names of later veterans proved difficult but not impossible. A criteria was established, and the names of all service personnel that left from the Town of Hoosick, or had lived in the Town at least 15 years, would be included on the plaques. Forms were made available throughout the Town, and veterans or their families sent in more names. For over a year the Committee accepted names and added them to the list. Primary responsibility for that list fell to Leonard and Marilyn Douglas. They spent hundreds of hours reviewing and checking them for accuracy.
Concrete for the plaza was poured in July 2011. The plaques were ordered and received in October. In November the WW I Memorial was cleaned and the plaques installed, all in time for Veterans Day.
Thank You
After the initial donations and countless in-kind contractor donations, a fund drive, with a raffle initiated by Kate Bradley, began on Memorial Day 2010. In kind donations included the in-ground display lights from J.A. Bradley & Sons, cement blocks from Carlton Coon and volunteer labor from Becker, McAuliffe and his dad Jerry McAuliffe, Louis Schmigel, Walt Zwinge, Village employees and Morrie Wheeler, who gave up his commission to see the plaques were received with the money raised. In one year over 250 individuals, churches, schools and businesses, the Village of Hoosick Falls and the Rensselaer County Legislature contributed $35,000.
The new wall is definitely a people’s wall. The community wanted to honor friends and loved ones. The community made this possible. Every individual that contributed made it possible.
Donations are still coming in, thankfully, as there is still a contributor plaque to be put up, further landscaping to do and benches to be added.
Already people are wanting to add names to the wall. This will be done at a later date. The cost is yet to be determined.
