Honor fallen soldiers from ‘our’ war with a Monument Square memorial

I write to express my commitment to honor the newly discovered Concordians who lost their lives in the American Revolution. I am co-chair of the Concord250 Permanent Memorial Subcommittee (CPMS). However, this letter reflects my own views as the CPMS has not had time to convene and consider a response to the several letters that have appeared in The Bridge regarding this matter.

The CPMS was well over a year into the planning process for a memorial honoring those people whose efforts supported justice and freedom, but whose voices were not heard, and whose names were rarely included on memorials, when Beth van Duzer’s indefatigable research unearthed 21 names of Acton soldiers who died in the Revolution. As a result, the CPMS added memorializing these soldiers to the mission statement of the subcommittee. I can say that all the members of the CPMS strongly recommend placing a memorial to our 21 Revolutionary dead.

Nearly every city and town in America — including Acton — has memorials honoring citizens who died in WWI, WWII, the Civil War, the Korean War, Vietnam, and more. Few municipalities, however, can say that any war actually started in their town. As we all know, Acton can say that — and we celebrate the Revolution’s anniversary here every April 19.

A memorial to these fallen soldiers from “our” war must be well thought out, aired and discussed among Concordians, and given the attention and detail that it deserves, including selecting the best location for such a memorial. It is my view that these names should be proudly and prominently witnessed on the Monument Square Oval.

Tooey Rogers

Elsinore Street