SOUTHWICK – The Veteran’s Memorial project is continuing to make progress. Troy Henke, a member of Southwick VFW 872 and helping spearhead this project, said that the plaques to memorialize the three fallen veterans have been purchased.
A memorial dedicated to veterans who graduated from Southwick, Tolland, or Granville High School, and were killed in combat or in a hostile attack while serving their country, will have plaques mounted on the wall as part of the memorial. The plaques will include an image of the veterans, their years of life, the year they graduated high school, and any service information. There will be three veterans that will be a part of the Veterans Memorial at this time and they are as follows:
Troy Henke is seen with Southwick Regional High Principal Joseph Turmel at a past school committee meeting as they discussed the plans for the Veterans Memorial Foyer. (WNG File Photo)
· William Alamed Jr. (killed while fighting the Vietnam War)
· Steven Wentworth (killed in the Beirut bombings in 1983)
· Travis Fuller (killed in the Iraq War in 2005)
As reported by the Westfield News on November 22, the Southwick Civic Fund is assisting Henke with this project. Joe Deedy, the President of the Southwick Civic Fund, is helping raise the $5,000 that is needed for the three plaques and the wall lettering and installation.
According to Deedy, about $3,200 has been raised and they still need another $1,800 to raise. In order to continue the fundraising efforts, an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast will take place on Sunday, February 18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Southwick VFW Post 872. The cost for the breakfast is $10 per adult and $5 each for children, with all of the proceeds going towards the Veterans Memorial Foyer.
If anyone is interested in donating towards reaching $5,000, donations can be made to the “Southwick Civic Fund,” and write “Memorial Foyer Project” on the memo line. All donations are tax deductible.
According to Henke, a dedication ceremony for the new Veteran’s Memorial foyer will take place on May 21, 2018 at 9 a.m. at the Southwick Regional High School gymnasium. More details on that event will be announced once we get closer to the date.
