by Bea Peterson
Hoosick Veterans Memorial Wall Co-Chairmen Phil Leonard and Marilyn Douglas, assisted at times by other Committee members, have been extremely busy reviewing names submitted for the plaques to be placed on the new wall in Wood Park. “We have compiled every application we have received, and we have organized the names by the wars in which the applicants served,” said Douglas. They are fairly confident they have all the names from WW II, the largest list. Most of the names had already been hand lettered on a wooden memorial now housed in the American Legion headquarters. “Locating the veterans who have lived here for at least 15 years has been a little more difficult,” Douglas added. Leonard has also gone through files and obituaries at the Louis Miller Museum to verify or add veterans’ names.
“We also have quite a few Korean and Vietnam veterans,” said Douglas. Names of veterans from later wars and conflicts may be placed on an additional plaque at a later date. She and Leonard have been reaching out to as many people as they know who have not already submitted their names or those of family members.
At the February Hoosick Town Board meeting Leonard said they had 860 WW II names, 130 from the Korean conflict, 105 from Vietnam, 23 non-war veterans and 11 veterans from Desert Storm.
Final Date
The Committee hopes to collect all the names to appear on the wall by March 15. Veterans who meet the criteria, or a member of their family or a friend, can pick up a form to complete at either the Hoosick Town office in the Armory or the Hoosick Falls Village Clerk’s office. They can also access a form at the Museum website, hoosickhistory.com. They should return the form, along with a copy of the veteran’s DD214 to Town of Hoosick Veterans Memorial, P.O. Box 536, Hoosick Falls, NY, 12090. For a name to be placed on the memorial the man or woman must have received any type honorable discharge from any branch of the military. The veteran must have been a resident of the Town or Village at the time he or she joined the military OR must be a resident of the Town or Village for 15 years OR must have been a member of the Hoosick American Legion or VFW for 15 years.
Time Line
After March 15 the names will be reviewed for spelling and era served. By May 1 the committee hopes to have the listed names available on paper for review by the public at both the Village and Town halls. They will also be on display in Wood Park on Memorial Day. After that, the names will be submitted for placement on the bronze plaques.
Veterans Day
If everything goes according to plan, the new Veterans Memorial Wall will be dedicated on Veterans Day, November 11, 2011 or, put another way, 11/11/11.
Funds Still Needed
So far $33,052 of the $35,000 needed for the plaques and landscaping has been collected. Members of the Committee have been overwhelmed by the success of this drive started Memorial Day 2010. “This has been a grass roots effort,” said Leonard. “The bulk of the money has come from members of the community and local organizations.” At the last Town Board meeting Leonard said 209 individuals have made contributions toward the wall. Twenty-one individuals gave over $500. “It’s been a great drive, a wonderful drive,” he said.
