Veterans showcased in video memorial ‘Digital Wall of Honor’ in Berlin’s Town Hall lobby donated by family of man who served in World War II
BERLIN – A video memorial honoring 70 local veterans, with more names and pictures to be added, is now on display in the Town Hall lobby.
The “Digital Wall of Honor”, broadcast on a 46-inch television was donated by the family of World War II veteran Edward Hornkohl who died in October. It was installed Nov. 3 after months of planning by the Berlin Veterans Commission.
The goal is to include as many names and pictures of people from Berlin who served in the nation’s military since the country’s founding. The digital display replaces a smaller, less inclusive display of photo prints .
The video slideshow displays submitted pictures, names, and information about service, deployment and citations for Berlin residents and natives who served in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and other combat situations and peacetime service.
The commission will add more information as it is submitted, commission member Peter Galgano, a USMC Vietnam veteran whose information is on the display.
“We have 70 veterans already and would like to have more,” Galgano said. One of those included is Herbert Carlson, whose information was submitted in October. Carlson, a WWII veteran, died on Nov. 1 and “his family is so grateful that his picture is on the wall,” Galgano said.
The new wall will be dedicated sometime after Veterans Day, which i s Nov. 11. Town ceremonies are scheduled for 11 .a.m. that day in Veterans Park.
The video plays through all the pictures, then will loop over again. There is a low-volume military musical soundtrack. Visitors to Town Hall have been stopping by the display since it was turned on.
“I brought a woman to the display whose late husband’s picture was on it., “assistant town clerk Cheryl Defurio said Thursday. “She wanted to see it.”
People can get more information from commission member Charles Colaresi at 860-224-9494. or Galgano at petergalgano@comcast.net or 860-604-7258
A video of the display is on YouTube.com.