November 11, 2004
……………………………………Veterans’ Day activities in Middleboro were highlighted by a ground breaking
ceremony for a new Middleboro Veterans Memorial Park on the Town Hall lawn. Participating in
the event were members of the Veterans Council park committee and invited dignitaries.
………. Pictured in a front page photo of the November 18 edition of the Middleboro Gazette
posing with special shovels were: Fran Creney, John Durham, Paul Krietzberg, Al Ortelt, Ed
Beaulieu, Warren Emerson, Cliff DeCoff, Ann Renaux, Norman Record, Paul Provencher, Walter D.
Campbell, Jr., and representing major sponsors were Ted Pratt President of Mayflower
Cooperative Bank; Jean Jones, Vice-President of Plymouth Savings Bank and Ron Dalton of
Massachusetts Archeological Society.
……..The new Veterans Memorial Park is the fruition of year-long negotiations with members of
the Veterans’ Council and the Middleboro Board of Selectmen. A letter sent by the Board to
Veterans’ Service Officer Paul Provencher dated November 4, 2003 stated : “At their meeting
held on Monday, November 3, 2003, the Middleborough Board of Selectmen unanimously voted to
endorse the concept of the Middleborough Veterans’ Memorial Park as presented to them and to
review future plans as they are completed.”
……… Currently posted on the Town Hall is huge thermometer sign, which is being used to show
the progress of the fund raising efforts of the park committee. Presently the gauge shows that
about $90,000 of the needed $200,000 to complete the park. Pledges for services and materials
have also been received.
………..Congressman Barney Frank was among the many local, state and federal officials to attend
the parade and ground breaking ceremony. He told those present,, according to the Middleboro
Gazette, “The park will be an opportunity to rededicate ourselves to the veterans who have
preserved freedom in this world…”
………Construction of the park is expected to start in a few weeks with completion hopefully in
time for Memorial day services in the Spring.
……..Paul Provencher wrote a thank you letter to the citizens of Middleboro, which was printed
under the Letter to the Editor section of the Gazette. He said, “The veterans of Middleboro
would like to thank everyone for their recognition during this period of honoring. Your
involvement at these events spoke volumes to those of us that offered up our lives in defense
of this community and nation.”
…………………………………………………..(Compiled by Bob Lessard Historian 2014)
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