Meredith Veterans Memorial Project

Our Mission

To create a permanent memorial honoring the military men and women from Meredith who served during the nation’s armed conflicts.

The Situation

Meredith does not have a comprehensive memorial honoring the veterans who served during all of the Nation’s conflicts. Those who served in America’s wars should be recognized by our community. The existing and previous memorials have not lasted as long as the legacy of service and commitment demonstrated by each veteran.

The Revolutionary War - no memorial for local residents who are known to have served
War of 1812 – no memorial
The Civil War – The Civil War statue erected by Major E.E. Bedee in honor of the 12th Regiment NH Volunteers is the one monument that has remained intact through our New Hampshire winters. However, there is no listing of the Meredith citizens who served.
Spanish-American War – no memorial
WWI – a wooden sign listing names was erected in 1918 but was removed many years ago when it fell into disrepair.
WWII – a wooden sign was originally erected in 1946 and repaired several times, most recently in 2015, but is once again showing signs of deterioration.
The Korean conflict – Meredith veterans were originally honored by the planting of a tree on the library grounds. Recently, the tree had to be removed due to disease, decay and potential danger.
The Vietnam War – no memorial
Post-Vietnam conflicts recognized by the US Government and the American Legion, including Panama, Grenada, the Persian Gulf War and the current Global War on Terror – no memorials.
A small bronze plaque embedded in a rock on the library grounds recognizes all veterans, but Meredith veterans, their families and friends deserve more. In the absence of a town square, the front lawn of the Meredith Public Library has traditionally housed Meredith’s memorials. The POW/MIA memorial in Hesky Park was designated, by a decree of then Gov. Lynch, as a state, not a local memorial.

Memorial Dedication

Veterans Day (Saturday November 11th, 2023) at 10:30AM.

The Meredith Veterans Memorial Committee and Meredith American Legion Post 33 invite the public to the Veterans Day Ceremony and Memorial Dedication on Saturday, November 11. The Veterans Day ceremony begins at the Meredith American Legion, 6 Plymouth Street, at 10:00AM and will proceed from there to the Meredith Public Library, 91 Main Street. As part of the event the new Meredith Veterans Memorial – located on the front lawn of the Library - will be dedicated. For more information please contact American Legion Post 33.

The Project

A committee has been formed under the auspices of Humble Grunt Work, a local organization dedicated to honoring and remembering all Veterans, to build a new, permanent memorial that lists the Meredith citizens who have served honorably in the military during the Nation’s conflicts, from the Revolutionary War to the recent Global War on Terror. This memorial, made of granite and bronze, will stand for generations on the front lawn of the library and include an accessible walkway from Main Street to the memorial, linking to the library’s new front ramp into the building. Future Memorial Day and Veterans Day recognition programs can be held by this memorial, which will also feature a new flagpole and integrated seating.

Anticipated Outcome

The memorial will better recognize our town’s long and proud heritage and its veterans, while giving future generations the opportunity to honor and remember our veterans, as well. The memorial will also enhance Main Street and will complement the recent Library renovation.

News

Project Updates

Norman Larson, of Chris Williams, Architects, has completed the design and we are in the process of getting bids for the memorial and pathways. Research is nearly complete on the list of names of Meredith residents who fought in the following wars: The Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War. We are still researching other pre-WWI conflicts. We have an initial list of names for Korea and Vietnam, and, of course, we already have the names for WWI and WWII from the original memorials that graced the Library lawn for many years.

Our next task is getting names for veterans of conflicts after Vietnam: Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, the 1st and 2nd Gulf Wars, and the ongoing Global War on Terror. We are starting a campaign to get the word out in town to veterans of these wars, and to their families, to solicit names to be included on the Memorial.

Please click the "News" button to see the press release.

Please click the “Nominate a Veteran” button to see the form to submit to add a name.

3-9-22:

Town Meeting voters overwhelmingly passed Warrant Article 15. This will authorize the Select board to expend up to $250,000 for project costs.

3-17-22:

Fundraising update- $108,660 raised to date in pledges / donations.

7-3-22:

Thermometer signs installed at library lawn and 3/25 intersection.

8-10-22:

Fundraising update- $125,927 raised to date in pledges/donations.

11-1-22:
Outreach: Townwide mailing of new brochure. Uncle Sam "We need your veteran" posters and new brochure to be placed throughout town. Social media postings.

11-25-22:

Fundraising update: Approximately $160,000 raised to date in pledges/donations.

4-5-23:

Fundraising update: We launched our "Buy a Paver" program for granite pavers. $100 for 6" x 12", $200 for 9" x 12", $300 for 12" x 12".

Outreach update: Our team has been successful in reaching veterans to include them on monument.

5-16-23: Achieved $176,000+ in donations/pledges. Moved the mercury up on our thermometer signs!

6-16-23: The ground breaking ceremony will be Wednesday, June 21st at 2:30PM on the library front lawn

9-11-23: Construction begins!

11/1/23- Fundraising: We reached $201,834 raised!

Nominate a Veteran

Fred Strader - Chair

Erin Apostolos - Secretary

Jim McFarlin - Fundraising

Gary Dehnel - Treasurer

Chuck Thorndike - Community and American Legion liaison

Meredith Veterans Memorial board members

Dave and Robin Albaneze

Fred and Betty Strader

Erin Apostolos

Christopher P. Williams Architects- Memorial Layout Design (In-Kind)

Carl Johnson- Advanced Surveying - Survey (In-Kind)

Lynn and Brad Leighton-HGW

Maggie and Rod Croes

Carla Taylor - HGW

Chuck and Karen Thorndike
Jill Duncan - HGW
John Moulton
Bonnie Burgess - HGW

Meredith Rotary Club

MVSB

Paul and Nancy Lavigne

John and Nancy Sherman- In memory of all veterans

The Xavier Group, Rachel Xavier, Realtor

Hart"s Turkey Farm Restaurant

James Gregoire

ReMax Bayside Realty- Chris Kelly

Norman Larsen (Project Designer-CPW Architects)

Matt Coker

Lovering Volvo- Rich & Linda Lovering

Ray & Carol Moritz

Interlakes Auto Repair- Pete Louden

Cyndi and Bob Troop

Heart & Hands Thrift Shop

Dean and Janet Gulezian - In memory of Barkev Gulezian & John Weinheimer

Bill Gartner

Miracle Farms Landscape & Property Management

Ambrose Bros. Inc. (in-kind)

Tom Mason

Dean Angerami

Chris and Cindy Berlied

Richard and Nancy Schroeder

Ann Taggett

Gary & Connie Dehnel
Bill & Janet Bayard
Michael Hatch
NH Charitable Foundation
Jeff & Amy Reilly
Herbert Whitker
Marilyn Lange

Ellen and Sean Roberts

William McGrail

Paula Wanzer

Ruth Collins

John Columbus

Edward and Judith Boquist

Ed and Christina Touhey

Jeanine and Frederic Copp

Tim and Anne Whiting

Pam Coburn

David and Caroline Marotta

Jim and Pat McFarlin

Nancy Morrill
Steven and Joan Aiken - In memory of Aiken/Lang/Ambrose
Peter and Katie Dulac
Kathryn Miller
Alan and Sally Hale
John and Nancy Law
Mr. and Mrs Mark B Billings- In recognition of all the veterans

Douglas and Rose McBride

Lorraine Kutcher

Bruce Jones
Paul and Deborah Walker
Susan Mangers
J Paul Lacaillade II
The Hancocks R.W. & S.S.

Barbara Manson

Dan Harris- Realgreen Lawn & Landcare, LLC

Dick and Carol Gerken

Susan Bradley & Associates - Kristin White

Friedman & Bresaw PLLC

Goodhue Marine Meredith LLC

The Amsden Family

Marcy Alkalay- In memory of Steven Schenk

Leslie Avery

Eversource Veterans Association Inc.

Rusty McLear

Thank you to our Donors

Thank you to our Pledgers

There are many ways you can contribute to the Meredith Veterans Memorial Project, but the most pressing need is financial support – your generous donations are appreciated and will make our project succeed.

Please share your support for this vital project with others who, like you, recognize the incredible importance of the Meredith Veterans Memorial.