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Sergeant John Hussey Memorial Park – Dedication Ceremony – May 28, 2016
Date Acquired: 1929
Acres: .30
Location: North Ems Street and Holyoke Road
History: This area has been an island that was developed with grass and trees and a sidewalk. In 1977, the park was redesigned by the state. The street was widened for better approach to the new bridge built over the railroad tracks. The park was reduced in size and today has flowerpots and a memory bench in memory of Jaime Lusher.
Otherwise known as Clay Hill Park, an effort to name a city park in memory of a war hero, which began in 1929 when the name was brought to city council for the name change and apparently died because of some procedural reason unknown.
In May 2012, the Westfield Veterans Council voted and brought to the attention of the Parks and Recreation Commissioners that they would like to see the name changed. The history on July 9, 1918, the President of the United States of America, authorized by the Act of Congress, presented the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant John Hussey, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving in action near St. Juvin, France on October 16, 1918. After his platoon leader had become a casualty, Sergeant Hussy led his platoon forward with great bravery, under intense direct fire from a machine gun nest resulting in Sergeant Hussy receiving mortal wounds.
Bobby Callahan Westfield Veterans Services, Paul Nimchick AL Post 124, Mayor Brian Sullivan, Edward Crevier AL Post 454, Joe Delaney AL Post 124, City Council President Brent Bean, Tara Bean and Jack Quinn, great-nephew of John Hussey.
Pictures provided by: Denise Quinn. (Photo submitted)
As one of Westfield’s fallen heroes of the Great War World War I, it was only right and proper that Sergeant Hussey be recognized by his home city for his courage, heroism, and bravery and service to his country. John Hussey was born in Ireland, Died October 16, 1918 killed in action. Home records listed as Westfield, MA. His General Orders: War department for actions during World War I. Action date October 16, 1918. Service: Army Rank: Sergeant Company 1: Regiment: 325 Infantry Regiment: Division: 82d Division, American Expeditionary Forces.
On June 12, 2012, the Parks and Recreation Commission approved renaming the park from Clay Hill Park to the Sergeant John Hussey Memorial Park. The next step was through City Council that voted to accept the name change on July 5, 2012. In 2012, the commission approved a memory bench donated by Jen Nowak sister of Jamie and her father James Lusher in memory of their missing son “Jaimie Lusher” who went missing on November 6, 1992, while riding his bike to his grandmother’s home in Blandford. A memorial service
was held November 6, 2013 at the park decorated with a wreath and greens. They chose this location due to its close proximity to the Lusher home and where everyone knew Jaime.
