World War II Veterans Finally Saluted

Grafton will finally have a memorial to World War II veterans, a move supporters say is long overdue.

Grafton Historical Society president Linda Casey told selectmen Tuesday, June 7, that the monument will likely be located on the Grafton Common, in front of the Congregational Church and near the current Vietnam/Korea memorial.

The cost of the memorial, about $8,000, will be raised from citizen donations, she said. If that is not enough, and she thinks it will be, a major donor will be sought.

The memorial will bear the names of the 19 Grafton residents killed in the war. No public money will be used, she said.

She hopes the memorial will be in place by Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

World War II is the only major war not represented on the Common, she said. 

The memorial idea was developed through a community committee spearheaded by the History and Research Committee of the Grafton Historical Society, Casey said.

Support was offered by the Alfred J. Demers American Legion Post 37, Grafton Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1497, the Delisle-Goulet American Legion Post 92, the Trustees of the Sailors and Soldiers Memorials, the Grafton Historical Commission, interested resident and veterans of World War II.

Selectmen offered their support for the project. Selectman Brook Padgett said he did not realize the town had no World War II memorial.

The project must be approved by the Grafton Historic District Commission, which oversees the Common. Casey said that should not be a problem.

"I think people know this is long overdue,'' she said.