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01/06/2010 11:00 PMThe American Legion
Post 79, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2096, and a "Cold War veteran" have joined efforts in a plan to expand and upgrade the town's Veterans
Memorial area on the Green.
George Delmhorst, comm-
ander of the American Legion
post and a member of the Veterans
Memorial Committee 2009, told the Board of Selectmen last month that plans call for a new granite marker, which will join the three stone markers already in place.
"The three memorial stones that presently surround the flag pole on the Green include a
marker for the Revolutionary War, for World War I, and then one stone marker for veterans of World War II, Vietnam, and Korea. Nothing has been added since 1975, although 46 campaigns have been undertaken by United State forces since then," Delmhorst said. "Many Madison residents have served and continue to serve. We feel it is
important to honor those who are now on active duty and also future generations of citizen
soldiers."
The veterans committee is recommending the placement of one more memorial stone-a piece of Madison granite that will match, as much as possible, the granite of the existing Revolutionary War stone. A bronze plaque will be
attached to the new stone, similar to those on the World War I and Revolutionary War stones.
In the new configuration, the Revolutionary War marker will be relocated. The existing flagpole, brickwork, and the World War II, Korea, and Vietnam monument will remain in place, along with the World War I stone. Six existing benches will be sited around the flagpole.
The Seashore Construction Company has volunteered to do the site work and supply the new stone, Delmhorst told the
selectmen.
"With the plaque, landscaping, and other costs, we think it will total about $3,500," Delmhorst said. "We will raise the funds. No town funds will be involved."
The committee received
approval from the selectmen and earlier had contacted the
Madison Historical Society, the garden club, and the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution seeking their
support.
"We anticipate this will be an open-ended marker, the last stone in our town's memorial to its veterans," Delmhorst said.
Madison's Civil War Memorial stands in the midst of West Cemetery. There are no plans to move it to the Green.