New Haven Register (Sunday) (New Haven, CT)
Shelton adds War on Terrorism monument
Fifth tribute to veterans added at park
SHELTON — The city capped off the transformation of Veterans Memorial Park into a virtual museum of local military history with a new Global War on Terrorism monument.
Dozens braved the rain Wednesday for the unveiling of the monument, on which is carved the name of Shelton native U.S. Army First Lt. Thomas J. Brown, who was killed in action on Sept. 23, 2008, in Balad, Iraq, as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“My son loved Shelton ... he loved growing up here,” said Brown’s mother, Carol Mary Brown, who flew from Arizona for the ceremony. “When it was time, he wanted to come back and raise his children here.
“He would be very proud but also very embarrassed about being honored here today,” Brown added. “I appreciate all you have done. Thank you.”
The Global War on Terrorism monument joins others honoring World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
Brown was joined by Gulf War veterans Kelly Stanton and Senior Master Sergeant William Stanton and retired U.S. Army Col. Julian Muller in unveiling the monument.
“Today we come together to pay homage to the more than 7,000 service members who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Global War on Terror,” Muller said. “We also honor the many more who returned from the war with wounds, both visible and invisible, and scars that have not only left a mark on the service members but also their families.”
Muller said the names etched on all five monuments represent a life cut short — but each leaves a legacy of service that will endure for generations to come.
Danbury’s Rovelli Monuments, part of the Travis Monument Group, fabricated and installed the memorials in the park honoring veterans who served in World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
Just as the other monuments in Veterans Memorial Park honor all who served and list the names of Shelton residents killed in action in those wars, the memorials honor the memory of all veterans who served during the Global War on Terrorism, with particular emphasis on Brown.
“Remembering the legacies of our nation’s heroes is an honor the team at Rovelli Monuments cherishes and takes very seriously,” said Anthony Minozzi, vice president of Travis Monument Group.
“These war monuments are not only awe-inspiring additions to Veteran’s Memorial Park, but they are undeniable reminders of the selflessness and bravery of the men and women of our Armed Forces,” Minozzi added.
This is the latest addition to Veterans Memorial Park under the guidance of the Veterans Memorial Committee, which has spent the past couple of years bringing war memorials to the large park.
Mayor Mark Lauretti said all had hoped the park would become a place where “the public can come and recognize the American citizens who have serve them so well and allowed us to be free — our veterans.
“I’m reminded how dedicated our veterans and veterans organizations have been over the years here in Shelton,” Lauretti added. “They have made me realize how important it is to never forget and always educate.”
The committee last year unveiled a monument in memory of Lt. John Smarz and the USS Thresher, the lead boat of its class of nuclear-powered attack submarines in the U.S. Navy that sank on April 10, 1963, during deep-diving tests east of Cape Cod, Mass.
All 129 crew and shipyard personnel aboard, including Smarz, who was a Shelton resident, died in the incident.
The committee also moved for security cameras at the park to deter vandalism, the installation of banners on two light poles at the Civil War monument, as well as QR codes at each monument.
The QR codes carefully explain the significance and importance of the monuments and emphasize the great stories surrounding each of them.