Harwinton’s new Veterans Memorial Monument on the Harwinton Town Green (junction of Route 4 and South Road) was completed just in time for Memorial Day 2024. The memorial had been in the conceptual and planning stages for over a decade. The new memorial covers all the wars and conflicts in which Harwinton residents have participated from the French and Indian War to the Global War on Terror.
The 30-foot diameter memorial is built almost entirely of granite. A compass star graces the floor base. Four granite benches with the inscriptions DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY, SERVICE encircle the compass star. Harwinton residents who served are honored with their names inscribed on six plinths encircling the monument. A 45-foot flagpole stands at the North end of the monument periphery and is centered between the plinths.
The committee members who worked with First Selectman Michael Criss to make the memorial come to fruition included Gary Schaff (Harwinton American Post 137 Commander), Dan Thurston, Bill Buys Sr., and Dale Cagenello; and Maddy Marzullo and Paul Smith who joined the committee later.
One of the original designers of the monument was Jim Bement, a World War II combat infantryman. Mr. Bement continued to serve as a consultant. His hope was to see the new memorial before he passed. Jim passed two weeks before his hundredth birthday on July 2023. Although Jim never saw the beautiful granite tribute in finished form, the committee feels he would certainly offer his whole-hearted approval.
The Veterans Memorial which once stood on the Harwinton Center Green has been relocated to the green between the Harwinton Town Hall and Public Library on Bentley Drive. This memorial contains the names of Harwinton Veterans serving in World War I, World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War.
