Historians add twist
By PATRICK ARMSTRONG
PUTNEY --

The historical society is adopting an unusual approach in trying to raise money for a proposed veterans' memorial -- one often used by groups interested in such things as stars, whales and wolves. "We're hoping to get people to kind of adopt a veteran," said Laurel Ellis, president of the Putney Historical Society. "A lot of people in the area have ancestors who would be on the memorial, and they would have no problems adopting them. We're hoping to get people to adopt other veterans."

The estimated cost of the monument will be roughly $35,000, said Ellis, and the historical society has not yet looked into grant programs. The monument was first proposed for 2000, but Ellis said society members knew it would not be completed in time. "It's something we've been working on for a couple of years," she added. At present, the historical society has compiled 487 names of people who "called Putney home when they enlisted," Ellis said. Currently, there is a Civil War memorial in Maple Grove Cemetery, but the names on the proposed monument, which were compiled from the town history and more recent lists, cover the period ranging from the Revolutionary War to 1990, including Desert Storm.

The largest number of names, 118, comes from World War II. The Revolutionary War has the next largest number, 108, while the Spanish-American War has the fewest number of names: two. Ellis said the monument will consist of five connected stones, each of which will be four feet high, three feet wide, eight inches thick and made out of Vermont granite. The historical society will be responsible for maintaining the monument, which will be set up in front of the town hall in an area designated as a memorial garden.

Ellis encouraged those who wished to verify or add a name to the list to call her.The beginning plans for Putney Celebration 2003 include the establishment of a Veteran's Memorial at Town Hall with a target date for unveiling on Veterans Day, 2003. The fundraising effort for the Memorial is not yet underway. If you would like to help, contact Laurel Ellis at the Historical Society for further details. (802/387-5862)