Doug Garon, left, of Garon-St. Sauveur Granite Company in Newport points out some of the features of the park to U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders and state Senator Bobby Starr. Mr. Garon and his partner, Jerry St. Sauveur, created a series of new monuments that honor the memories of those who fought in American conflicts since the Civil War. The new monuments echo the design of the older World War I monument, which was brought to the site in 2006. Photos by Joseph Gresser
DERBY — The Civil War monument in Derby may or may not be the oldest in the country, but for almost a century and a half the granite obelisk has stood in memory of Derby residents who fought to preserve the union and end slavery.
On Saturday several hundred residents, many of them veterans, gathered near the monument to rededicate the site as a place to honor Derby men and women who served in the Civil War and the many conflicts this country has fought in the intervening years.
The central monument remains untouched, but a concrete pathway now leads pedestrians on a circular journey from the new parking lot past monuments commemorating those who fought in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the first and second Gulf wars, and in Afghanistan.
Along the way, visitors can rest on a black bench built in memory of Deborah Kelly Studer, a woman who was not herself a veteran, but who helped soldiers returning from war with traumatic brain injuries.
Joining Derby citizens in the rededication of the park were U.S Senator Bernie Sanders, Governor James Douglas, state Senator Bobby Starr, and state Representatives Bob Lewis and Scott Wheeler.
Mr. Wheeler was the master of ceremonies for the event, calling speakers to the podium and thanking those who contributed to the refurbishment of the park.
First on that list was Senator Sanders, who helped fund the project — which cost nearly $85,000 — with a $75,000 federal grant.
Before the ceremony Governor James Douglas and Dorothy, his wife, pose with members of the committee who supervised the renovation of the veteran’s memorial park. From left to right are Lauri Kelly, Stephen Brochu, Dennis Beauchesne, John Moore, Governor and Mrs. Douglas, and David LaBelle. Committee member Joe Profera arrived at the ceremony too late to be included in the group portrait.
In his remarks he urged his audience to never ever forget those who made sacrifices for their country from the Revolutionary War to those now in Afghanistan. Monuments like the one in Derby serve to remind people, especially young people, of America’s history, Senator Sanders said.
He said that a poll taken on July 4 asked people what country the U.S. fought to gain its independence. Twenty-five percent of all those questioned did not know the answer, and 40 percent of those under 29 were unaware that colonies rebelled against Great Britain, Senator Sanders said.
“We must remember to keep promises made to veterans alive today,” Senator Sanders concluded, “not just in words, but in deeds.”
Governor Douglas began his speech by recalling the promptness with which Vermonters responded to the call to arms in the Civil War.
He said that the state suffered the greatest per capita losses in that war, as it has in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Governor Douglas said he recently visited Vermont National Guard troops in Afghanistan. Vermont’s contingent is the largest of any state in absolute numbers, Governor Douglas said.
He paraphrased the words of President Calvin Coolidge to tell the crowd, “The nation will be forgotten if it doesn’t remember those who made it what it is today.”
Mr. Wheeler introduced Mr. Lewis and Mr. Starr for brief remarks. State Senator Vince Illuzzi was to have spoken as well, but Mr. Wheeler said “A funeral took him away… not his own.”
The Vermont Civil War Hemlocks fire a salute to honor Derby’s fallen soldiers at the rededication of the town’s veterans park, Saturday afternoon. Bob Morey bears the colors, and partially hides Captain Bo Stewart of the Third Vermont Regiment. Drummer Josh Paquette and Master Musician David Hare look on while Border Patrol Supervisory Agent Erik Lavalle (obscured by the rifles’ smoke) stands on the base of the monument and waits to play “Taps.”
Color Guards from the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the Border Patrol and the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps from North Country Union High School added an element of patriotic pageantry, as did members of the Third Vermont Regiment as portrayed by the Vermont Civil War Hemlocks.
Sergeant Henry Wakefield gave spectators a brief, but thorough, account of the major contributions Vermont soldiers made during the Civil War. He said that Vermonters participated in virtually every action undertaken by the Army of the Potomac, a fact that helps explain the terrible number of casualties endured by the Vermont towns that sent their youth off to war.
According to Mr. Wheeler, the community that is now known as Derby lost 53 of its young men in the war.
A martial tribute in the form of a salute fired by the Hemlocks, and the playing of “Taps” by Border Patrol Supervisory Agent Erik Lavallee recalled the casualties endured by Derby families through the years.
After the ceremonies many of those present walked around the memorial to admire the monuments and think of those who fought for the U.S. over the years.
The renovation project began quietly in 2006 when Dennis Beauchesne, commander of the Alfred Pepin post of the VFW, suggested to Derby selectmen that the town’s World War I monument be moved near the Civil War monument. The World War I monument had been sitting, largely unnoticed, in front of the Dailey Memorial Library on Main Street in Derby.
In a solemn procession that drew veterans and political leaders from around the state, the stone was moved to its present site. A new lighted flagpole was also installed.
A committee made up of David LaBelle, Lauri Kelly, Joe Profera, John Moore and Stephen Brochu, led by Mr. Beauchesne, planned and saw the project through to completion.
After the ceremony Mr. Beauchesne said he plans to get some rest after the group’s effort.
“I’m not going to have any more ideas,” he said, just before suggesting that it might be a good idea to have a stone commemorating those who received the Order of Purple Heart for wounds received in America’s wars.
