Plainville honors local veterans with several monuments in a downtown park established in 1945.
Plainville’s Civil War veterans are honored with the Defenders of the Flag Monument, which was dedicated in 1913. The granite monument features a standard-bearer atop a granite monument inscribed on its front (northwest) face with the simple dedication, “In memory of the defenders of the flag.”
The monument’s northwest face also features a large Grand Army of the Republic medallion just below the standard-bearer’s feet, as well as crossed swords (representing the cavalry) and rifles (representing the infantry) above the years during which the Civil War was fought.
The standard-bear’s pose is somewhat uncommon in that, unlike most Civil War monuments depicting a standard-bearer, the Plainville figure holds the flag with both hands. Most earlier standard-bearer monuments include a figure prepared to withdraw a sword to defend the colors.
The metal GAR marker near the base of the monument is unusually large and the first we’ve seen that has been painted. The cannon behind the monument was cast in 1863.
The monument, originally located on land that later became the site of Town Hall, replaced a wooden memorial in a local cemetery honoring the town’s Civil War veterans.
The monument was supplied by the McGovern Granite Company of Hartford, whose other monuments in Connecticut include memorials in Unionville, Old Saybrook, Stafford Springs and Newtown.
Along the Maple Street side of Veterans’ Memorial Park, at the corner of Whiting and Maple street, a 1984 monument honors veterans of Korea and Vietnam. The granite monument, topped with an engraved eagle, features a dedication on its north face “in honor of the men and women of this community who served in Korea and Vietnam.”
Next to that monument, a 1991 monument honors Plainville residents who served in Operation Desert Storm.
Near the park’s northwest corner, a stone monument with a large plaque honors Plainville’s World War veterans. A dedication reads, “In honor of the men and women of Plainville who served in the Armed Forces during World War I & II. To the eternal memory of those who gave the last full measure of devotion and sacrifice.”
The list of World War I dead contains nine names, and the section honoring World War II dead lists 31 residents.
Did you know that three young men who graduated from PHS class of 1966, all served in Vietnam as Marines. All meant each other over there and were not awhere that each went into the Corps. One of these men I saw for the fist time during combat. My unit had been ambushed and we were retaking a hill when I ran past our corpsman bent over working on this wounded Marine. I recognized him. I didn,t say anything to him because we were under heavey enemy fire. I know that Jim Van Beveran lived to come home. I don,t know if he is still alive today, but if he is, I hope that he is well and remember that your old classmate was there with you. Semper Fi, Sgt. Romeo Boucher USMC 2nd Battalion 9th Marines. Plainville High School Class of 1966.