'Living memorial' now part of city's Veterans Park

By JOHN HOWELL
Posted 5/29/18

By JOHN HOWELL -- Memorials tend to be static; whether monuments, markers, statues or parks with benches and flagpoles. But that's not what Rep. Camille Vella-Wilkinson was thinking of when she planned Monday's Memorial Day observance at Veterans Park in

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'Living memorial' now part of city's Veterans Park

Posted

Memorials tend to be static; whether monuments, markers, statues or parks with benches and flagpoles.

But that’s not what Rep. Camille Vella-Wilkinson was thinking of when she planned Monday’s Memorial Day observance at Veterans Park in front of Veterans Junior High School. She was looking for a “living memorial” and she found it in a tree.

The observance was organized after it was learned that the Warwick Veterans Council would not hold its traditional Memorial Day Parade. Veteran’s Council President Anthony Rodrigues was hospitalized this spring and while he is recovering, others in the council were likewise faced with health problems.

Acting Mayor Joseph Solomon vowed there would be a ceremony and Vella-Wilkinson followed through with the planning.

She arranged for a Warwick Police color guard and for Sophie Colantuono, daughter of former Ward 1 Councilman Steve Colantuono to sing the National Anthem. Offering prayers were Father Roland Simoneau and Father Robert Marciano.

Bill Russo talked briefly of veterans he knew and how “Kenneth” Brad Goff, who went missing in action in the Vietnam War and who is memorialized in the park likely walked across the park ground when he was a student.

Solomon spoke of the sacrifices made by veterans in order to preserve our freedoms and the emotional experience of the Boots on the Ground for Heroes Memorial staged at Roger Williams Park by Operation Stand Down Rhode Island.

Generating a ripple of laughter, Vella-Wilkinson without realizing it called on Mayor Scott Avedisian, rather than Solomon, to assist in digging the hole for a tree.

Vella-Wilkinson said she picked a dogwood because of its white springtime flowers and its vibrant fall colors.

Solomon and City Council President Steve Merolla joined in further digging out the hole. It wasn’t, however, until after taps was played by Nathan Cornell that the tree – a dogwood – was lowered into the ground and Vella-Wilkinson and members of the City Council joined in filling in the earth.

Carrying a flag and with a red, white and blue bun in her hair, Marcia Beagan rallied the group, getting everyone to join in to sing "God Bless America."

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  • CrickeeRaven

    What a fitting and appropriate tribute to Warwick's service members. Compliments to local officials and true leaders who organized this event.

    A certain candidate who disparaged the Veterans Council members who fell ill and could not hold a parade this year [see the comments here -- http://warwickonline.com/stories/no-parade-but-memorial-day-observance-planned-for-monday,134208?#comments] could learn the meaning of respect from the example set by these local leaders.

    Tuesday, May 29, 2018 Report this