Freedom Park Rededication Ceremony Set In Hamden

From the Town of Hamden

HAMDEN, CT — The Town of Hamden and Hamden’s Veterans Commission cordially invite the public to join town officials on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 10 a.m. for the Freedom Park Rededication at the intersection of Whitney and Dixwell Avenues, 2360 Whitney Avenue, in Hamden.

The event will honor Abner and Cyndy Oakes and their devotion to POWs and MIAs. The Oakes family will reminisce about Abner and Cyndy and the origins of the park. Architectural Historian Kyle Driebeek and Architect/Designer Frank Chapman will provide a history of the park, from plan to development.

Abner Oakes passed away on May 29, 2021 and his wife Cyndy Oakes passed away shortly thereafter on October 10, 2021. Abner held an active-duty role in the Navy and later with the Naval Reserve until his retirement as a Commander. He subsequently lived in Hamden with Cyndy for more than 50 years.

In 1973, Abner and Cyndy spearheaded the creation of Hamden’s Freedom Park to increase awareness around prisoners of war and soldiers missing in action (POWs/MIAs). Cyndy’s brother was MIA and she leveraged her role as chairwoman of the Hamden Junior Women's Club's Veterans Committee to lobby the Town to plant a Freedom Tree in a pocket park across from the Hamden’s Memorial Town Hall.

Abner was a founding member of the Hamden Veterans Commission and served as its chairman for several years. In 2010, he was inducted into the Connecticut Veterans’ Hall of Fame.

Please join us at the Freedom Park Rededication to celebrate the lasting legacy of Abner and Cyndy Oakes and recognize their significant contributions to veterans and POW/MIA awareness.

For more information, contact Deputy Chief of Staff, Alexa M. Panayotakis, at 203-287-7100 or email at apanayotakis@hamden.com.