The town of Greenwich offers an impressive collection of monuments along Greenwich Avenue.
A granite monument outside the Greenwich Commons “pocket park” (in front of the Board of Education offices) was dedicated in 1956 to honor those lost in World War II and subsequent conflicts. The monument depicts a WWII-era solider staring toward the south with a woman and a young girl kneeling or standing at his side. Beneath this image is the dedication “in reverent memory of those from the town of Greenwich who made the supreme sacrifice World War II Korea Vietnam”.
In front of the monument, a large flagpole with an eight-sided granite base carries the names of Greenwich residents lost in World War II and Korea. Seven panels bear 185 names of World War II heroes, and one panel has 13 names of residents who were lost in Korea.
To the south of the monument, a smaller granite marker carries 24 names of local residents killed in the Vietnam War.
Near this monument is a statue of military aviation pioneer Raynal C. Bolling, who was killed in the first world war. Beneath a bronze statue of Bolling looking to the sky is a simple inscription bearing only his last name. The rear of the monument is inscribed with his name and biographical information, as well as an explanation of Bolling’s role in the early days of military aerial combat.
Bolling Air Force base in Washington, D.C, is named for the aviator.
The sculptor of the Bolling monument, Edward Clark Potter, also created the lions outside the New York Public Library, the statue of General Henry Warner Slocum in Gettysburg and other monuments.
Near the Bolling monument is a tree that was planted April 9, 1914 by the Grand Army of the Republic, the post-Civil War-era veteran’s organization. Unfortunately, the dedication listed on the bottom half of the marker (which has apparently been disturbed by the tree’s roots) is covered by grass and soil, and we didn’t think the local police would be pleased by the efforts of a monument blogger found uncovering the inscription.
A little further south on Greenwich Avenue is the town’s World War monument, a 50-foot obelisk that sits in a small park in front of the town’s Post Office. The obelisk has a multi-sided base bearing the dedication “in honor of the men and women of Greenwich who served in the World War” as well as “in memory of those who died and an inspiration to all who follow.”
Another side of the base lists the following battles: Second Battle of the Marne, North Sea, St. Mihel, Ypres Lis, Meuse Argonne and Verdun.
(The images in today’s post were taken in late February, when the tree near the World War monument still had Christmas decorations. The town’s Civil War monument, at Maple and East Putnam avenues, was highlighted in an earlier post.)
Tags: Greenwich
Colonel Raynal Cawthorne Bolling (Raynal pronounced as in “canal”) (September 1, 1877 -March 26, 1918) was the first high-ranking U.S. officer to be killed in combat in World War I. He laid the foundation for the United States Army Air Service in the American Expeditionary Force. He was ambushed by German troops near the front lines on the Amiens-Saint-Quentin road (the modern N29) during the second Somme offensive.
there is a base relief depiction on the backdrop behind bolling, of three planes in a dogfight
on the back of the limestone is inscripted
Raynal C. Bolling
Born September 1, 1877
Foresaw his Nation’s call to Arms
And left a brilliant career
To prepare himself for service
In the World War
Colonel of Aviation
American Expeditionary Forces
He laid the foundation
For Our Aerial Warfare in France
He fell in action near Amiens
March 26, 1918
In the Vanguard
Of the Thousands of Americans
Who gave all for their Country
this section of greenwich ave is a national historic landmark