The Town of Franklin has one of the most beautiful Veteran’s Memorial areas in the state. If you haven’t been there recently, it is worth a visit. There are monuments for all wars centered in front of the WWI “Doughboy” monument. At the rear of the monument area is the Veterans’ Memorial Walkway, which currently honors 1866 veterans who have served America.

Perhaps the most moving part of the Memorial area are the 45 granite posts which line the Veterans’ Walkway. Each one of these posts is dedicated to a Franklin veteran who gave his life, defending our freedom. These columns are beautifully done, marked with bronze plaques and a flag. During the holidays, each is also decorated with a beautiful wreath.

Over the past few months, Franklin’s Veterans’ organizations, the Edward L. Grant American Legion Post 75, and the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars Post 3402, under the auspices of the Town’s Veterans Council, have developed a program to further honor those who died for our nation, to ensure they are remembered, and their stories are kept alive.

In January, the first of ceremonies honoring the 45 soldiers took place at the column of William O. Martello, Ensign, U.S. Navy who died on that date off Anzio beach in Italy, when his landing craft struck a mine.

In February, four more veterans honored on their KIA dates, February 18 – Air Force SSgt Alan Willard, Vietnam; February 22 – Navy Oiler James P. Murray, WWI; February 24 - Marine Corporal David Laughlan III, WWII, and February 26 – Marine Lance Corporal Richard L. Desper, Vietnam.

For the month of March, we will honor the following veterans:  On March 10, a dual ceremony will be held for Army 2nd LT John A. Schur, WWII and Army PFC Marshall E. Rollins, both who lost their lives on the same day; March 18 - Army PFC Elton E. Ekstrom, WWII, and on March 30 – W. Franklin Lynch WWI.

On April 9th, both Joseph R. Paulette and Russel W. Shaw, who lost their lives in Vietnam, will be honored. Later in the month, on April 17th, John J. Kell, who perished in World War II, will be honored, and on April 30th, John E. Pasquantonio, who was killed in Vietnam, will be honored. 

This program will include the placing of a Memorial Wreath for the day, the playing of Taps, a salute from those present, and a reading of whatever history we may have on that veteran.  This is a way of keeping the memory of that veteran alive.

This event will happen 45 times during the coming year. Some months, like January, only one ceremony will be held. Other months will have multiple ceremonies, such as February with 4 and June with 7. On March 10, April 9, July 18, and September 21, there will be dual ceremonies as we lost two veterans on the same day.

Families of the veterans, if known, will be invited to attend the 9 a.m. ceremony.

The public is invited to attend these ceremonies to honor those who gave their lives.

Franklin’s military organizations support numerous veterans’ activities and encourage all veterans in town to join them.