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Stonington looks to help fund proposed veterans memorial

The Day - 1/5/2022

Jan. 5—STONINGTON — The town has included money in the proposed 2022-23 capital improvement budget to help fund the remainder of the proposed $180,000 veterans' memorial on the front lawn of the police station.

First Selectwoman Danielle Chesebrough said Wednesday that the town has raised $80,000 in private donations to help pay for the eight-sided granite memorial that will list the names of the more than 7,000 residents who have served in the military since World War I. She said she has included the full $180,000 in the capital budget but that number will be adjusted based on the donations.

The request is listed as a "B" or "urgent" priority, the second-highest ranking that can be given to a proposed capital project. The highest is "committed," which means the town already has made a legal, contractual or other commitment to spend the money. A "C" priority is needed, "D" is acceptable and "E" is deferrable.

Chesebrough said she is seeking the funding in the capital budget because she is not sure how much more the town can raise in private donations. She said the town has placed a $33,000 deposit on the project to lock in the price with Buzzi Memorial on Route 1.

The Board of Finance will review and approve capital requests this spring. Chesebrough said that if the funding is approved, work could begin this summer.

"We've worked so hard on this," she said.

Planning for the project began in January 2020.

The project is a joint effort by the town and the Harley P. Chase Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1265 in Pawcatuck.

Chesebrough said the town is considering an idea to have artists compete to design the sides of the memorial. Residents also will be able to use smartphones or computers to read through the names of all veterans.

More information about the project can be found at bit.ly/stvetsproject.

j.wojtas@theday.com

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