A new addition is planned for the Southwick War Memorial this fall. (THE WESTFIELD NEWS PHOTO)
SOUTHWICK – Fundraising efforts are underway to add a panel to the town’s War Monument that will honor veterans who live in town but were not enlisted or deployed from Southwick.
Residents must have lived in Southwick for a minimum of 40 years following their service and must have served in a war zone to be considered.
Troy Henke of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 872 and Rick Marcoullier of American Legion Post 338 met with the Southwick Select Board Feb. 18 to discuss funding the addition.
Henke said the total cost is approximately $5,000, half of which is needed to start the process.
Henke and Marcoullier said between two private donations and a Legion spaghetti dinner they raised $563. Select Board Chairman Russ Fox said there is $2,300 left in the town’s account for maintenance of the monument, so combined with the funds raised thus far, they have the $2,500 needed to start work on the stone panel.
Henke said the panel will be to the side of the current monument, with all names engraved on the front, which means less work and it complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Marcoullier said there are at least four people that they know of who meet those requirements.
Henke and Marcoullier plan to unveil the panel at the Celebrate Southwick 250 parade Oct. 11.
“We are not having a Veterans Day parade this year,” Henke said. “A lot of the same people would be volunteering to coordinate both parades.”
Instead, the Veterans Day program will be part of the 250th celebration.
A fundraiser was created on gofundme.com — search for Southwick War Memorial – to accept donations for the monument addition
