We must never forget
By NEIL ZOLOT
WAKEFIELD — Early morning rains subsided and afternoon rain was light and intermittent for the rededication of the Soldiers and Sailors of the Civil War Monument on the Lower Common, Saturday, May 31.
Following military protocol, the rededication of the monument was accepted by Rhode Island resident Roderick Fraser, commander of the Massachusetts chapter of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and a Navy veteran. “It ensures those who gave their lives for freedom are held in our memory,” he said of the monument. “So long as it should endure it will speak of the bravery of the Army and Navy to us all.”
He also hoped the Monument will inspire future generations by commemorating patriotism and gallantry.
“We are thrilled it’s been preserved,” Wakefield resident, vice-commander of the Sons of Union Veterans and Air Force veteran Kevin Tucker, added.
“Having the monument back in its original condition is great,” Town Councilor John Carney said during the 3 p.m. rededication ceremony.
The monument, which includes figures representing the artillery, cavalry, infantry and Navy, was dedicated June 17, 1902, funded in part by a $10,000 donation from citizen Harriet Newell Flint. She also donated funds for the Flint Library in North Reading.
The rededication occurred 160 years after the end of the Civil War. A bicentennial rededication is scheduled for June 17, 2102, which former Town Councilor Robert Vincent II said is also a Saturday, as he hosted the dedication ceremony. He joked fair weather is forecast for that day.
Vincent was instrumental in the process to repair and rededicate the Monument. As a Town Councilor he asked for the members to approve an allocation of $10,000 for a repair estimate in October 2022, which was calculated at $300,000. Town Meeting appropriated that sum for work in the spring 2023 session.
“We take this opportunity to remember our past and memorialize history,” he said at the ceremony. He also called it “a striking and beautiful work of art” and “a great tribute to the Town’s history.”
Retiring Town Administrator Steve Maio was co-coordinator of the event with Vincent. “We’ve been planning this for over a year to celebrate the rededication of this wonderful statue,” he said. “I’m grateful to the people who funded this.”
The ceremony also featured placement of a time capsule with items collected by local Boy and Girl Scout troops, including a sample of water from Lake Quannapowitt and bookmarks from Beebe Library, on the grounds scheduled to be opened at the bicentennial ceremony.
Additionally, the Gettysburg Address was read and proclamations from the state legislature and citation from the Governor’s office commemorating the day were presented by state Senator Jason Lewis and Representatives Kate Lipper-Garabedian and Donald Wong. Lipper-Garabedian called the monument “an enduring testament to the courage of brave soldiers and sailors from Wakefield who served our country in a time of need that has also come to symbolize others in the armed services.”
Wong said the different figures “symbolize the range of Wakefield’s service in the Civil War.”
The ceremony also included Historical Society president, Historical Commission chair and historian of the Hartshorne House Association Nancy Bertrand reading a short biography of Flint and author Adrienne Ordung reading a short biography of Civil War soldier Horace Warren, who saw action at the Battle of Bull Run.
In the morning and early afternoon Civil War re-enactors were stationed on the grounds at Lake Quannapowittt. They included Wakefield resident and Veterans Advisory Board member Dale Findlay and former Reading resident Chris Coveney representing the 5th Massachusetts Light Artillery Battery. They manned a cannon facing the lake and fired it off before and after the ceremony.
Re-enactors representing the 15th and 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiments were also present. “We do quite a few events in the northeast,” Webster resident Greg Flanagan of the Worcester County based 15th said.
“Quite often when we do these things we come from different locations,” Norton resident Bruce Church of the Norton based-20th added.
Before the ceremony people could also visit the nearby 1st Baptist Church and see student projects on the Civil War, the Historic Museum and Hartshorne House. “I’m glad we could participate,” First Baptist Church Pastor Doug Dry said.
“It’s been a good day,” Bertrand said from the Wakefield History Museum. “I’m excited the whole town came together to celebrate our history.”
Brady Karn of Rhode Island was demonstrating musket use there. “There was a good flow of people and engaging questions,” he said. “There’s a lot of interest in this occasion. It’s not every day you get to see a ceremony like this.”
John Devlin of Wakefield came to the museum. “I find it enlightening to look at the collection they have,” he said in reference to relics and documents from Wakefield’s history. “If you come every few months, you’ll see different things.”
A Council on Aging van shuttled between the sites. “It’s been steady,” driver Joe Riley reported.
Residents wandering the area included School Committee Chair Stephen Ingalls and Dave McConnell. Both were grateful the weather cooperated.
“I enjoy history,” McConnell said. “The things that happened are interesting.”
Ingalls called everything “amazing.”