A Historically minded citizen researched the flow of “Veteran Memorials” in Rehoboth. Here is some very interesting facts.
March 1, 1909, Voted to provide for monument or marker to the memory of those who served in the American Revolution in the militia or naval service (R. Trim)
March 6, 1911, Upon request of an old soldier, the Town voted to appropriate money for a flag and pole for the Town Hall. (R. Trim)
March 3, 1919, $250 was appropriated for the purpose of erecting a monument or tablet for those Soldiers, Sailors and Marines who served in the past World War.
A.B. Horton, Harold A. Goff and George H. Blackledge appointed as a committee. (Town Tax Report) This would have been the bronze plaque at Goff Hall that later was moved to Palmer River School.1934
April 1931, the American Leion Post 302 was established and the current building know a the “Town Meeting Hall” was purchased from the town of Rehoboth
April 1934, the cannon at the Legion Square was obtained through the interest of Congressman Joseph Martin. This is a relic of World War I and saw service at that time. (R.Trim) Cannon now sits in front of American Legion – it was restored by the American Legion.
October 17, 1943, Honor Roll Dedication exercises were held at 2:30 this Sunday afternoon. A Parade formed at the Legion Hall at 1:45 and marched to Bay State Road and Winthrop Street, near Danforth Street. ( from dedication program) Honor Roll was made of wood and poorly maintained. Due to neglect the wood rotted and fell down in the 1990s)
March 14, 1955, Town Meeting voted that the sum of $3,500 be raised & appropriate for the purpose of erecting a permanent War Memorial at Palmer River School. Page 106, Tax Report 1955 Current Brick wall
June 20, 1955, Special Town Meeting
Article 4 voted to give permanent War Memorial Committee authority to move the World War I and Civil War Memorial from Goff Memorial Parish Hall to the Palmer River School. Unanimous vote. Page 112, Tax Report of 1955
August 2, 1957, A permanent War Memorial was erected in front of the Palmer River School at a cost of $500.
Nov 26, 1967, VFW – Craig H. Waterman Post 9688 in honor of a Marine Killed in Vietnam. Started 10/15/1968; Instituted 11/26/68 as a post. They closed their charter in February 1970.
May 29, 2010, American Legion Post 302 dedicates two granite benches; one to First Lieutenant Craig Waterman, USMC killed in Vietnam and second to Captain Benjamin Sammis USMC, killed in Iraq in 2003.
September 2010 Sammis Field and Waterman Diamond were dedicated behind the old Town Office building at Nike Park
May 28, 2013 - Korean War plaque at Palmer River Elementary School was replaced and landscaped with brick pavers by Jose
June 2019, - An Eagle Scout Project by John Silvia to replace the old flag mast in front of Palmer River Elementary School and replace it with an aluminum flagpole that was acquired by the Director of Veteran Services Jake Kramer from the Plymouth School District with the assistance of the Rehoboth Highway Department
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