A bronze marker at the New Cemetery noting a local veteran’s final resting place. (photo courtesy Southwick Historical Society).
SOUTHWICK – Chair Sean Bissaillon, Southwick Historical Commission, announced that on Saturday, June 24, the members of the Southwick Historical Commission will install another 20 bronze markers at the New Cemetery starting at 1:00 pm.
In 2013, the Southwick Historical Commission took on the initiative to identify and install markers in honor of our veterans. For the first two years, the Commission replaced or installed bronze markers in the Old Cemetery, and in 2016 focused on the New Cemetery.
A bronze marker and headstone at the New Cemetery noting a local veteran’s final resting place. (photo courtesy Southwick Historical Society).
Commissioner Lee Hamberg said “the placing of flag holders on veterans’ graves initiated sometime after the Civil war. The earliest markers were made of cast iron. Many of these markers were broken due to impact damage caused by lawnmowers, fallen branches, or rusting affected by the environment. Other graves were marked with bronze flag holders installed by the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Sons of the American Revolution, the American Legion or the Veterans of Foreign Wars.”
In the last four years, the Historical Commission has installed several bronze markers on veteran’s graves where they were not previously marked, or where the markers were damaged or broken. The goal of the local Commission is to assure that all veterans who served this country and buried in the Southwick cemeteries are appropriately marked and honored.
The public is invited to attend and view the markers.
