Vets Memorial progress continues

By John Faucher

Work on the Veterans Memorial resumed last week at Taft Veteran’s Park in downtown New London.

Jim Jaeger, secretary for the New London Veterans Memorial Foundation said that the granite for the memorial arrived to the United States from Africa, and is currently being cut to size.

“They are being cut into 17 different pieces and should be arriving in New London by November,” said Jaeger.

The bronze eagle for the top of the existing memorial arrived in New London last week.

The custom bronze eagle weighs 620 pounds and has a six-foot-four-inch wingspan.

Greg Mathewson of Mathewson Monuments said he plans to mount the eagle sometime after Labor Day weekend. He said it would take two or three days to mount the piece.

Brian Schoenrock of Shaney’s Group Landscaping continued his work on the brick pavers for the memorial last week.

“We’re still at least a year ahead of schedule from where we thought we would be,” said Jaeger.

He also said the group’s fundraising efforts are going strong.

“We had our best month to date in July,” said Jaeger. “That puts us at around $130,000 raised in cash so far.”

The foundation is planning a pig roast for Oct.1, at Bean City Ballroom and a bowling tournament at Hilby’s New London Lanes later this fall.