43rd Memorial Monument
The 43rd Infantry Division Memorial Monument & Brick Walk is located on the grounds of the Connecticut State Veterans Cemetery, 317 Bow Lane in Middletown, CT. It is directly on the right hand side just after the main entrance road, across from the flag poles.
The memorial was conceived and designed by David W. Thiede, a son of a 43rd Infantry Division veteran. Brass plaque design concepts and monument text were presented to the 43rd Association members at their annual reunions over several years for approval. The monument consists of a four sided column with six brass plaques. The plaques were donated by either individual 43rd Veteran Association members, family members, or by one of the several Chapters of the 43rd Infantry Division Veterans Association.
The monument was funded by an engraved brick program. The brick program along with the plaque donations were enough to cover the cost of the monument including having a landscape company prepare the site and place the bricks. The walkway is in the shape of the 43rd Infantry Division shoulder crest.
On Friday, August 5, 2011, veterans from the 43d Division and their families, along with state and local dignitaries, gathered at the State Veterans Cemetery on Bow Lane, Middletown, CT to break ground for the memorial monument.
The ceremony began with 43rd Association Sec/Treasurer David Thiede giving a short recounting of the history of the 43d Division, and how the final design of the monument emerged after bringing drawings to several reunions and getting input from the veterans and their families.
“When I was approached by the 43d, I was very welcoming and wanted to be sure that they knew that they could create this memorial here,” said Commissioner of the CT. State Dept. of Veterans Affairs Dr. Linda Schwartz.
“But after listening and reading about the very impressive history of this unit and their connection to our own 102nd Infantry of our National Guard, it seemed even more fitting that they would have a marker of their service here,” said Schwartz.
Deputy Commissioner Joseph Perkins addressed the crowd. “I felt real good when I found out that the monument was going to be put here.”
“I look out and I see some of the guys I actually served with,” said Perkins. “My old commanding officer, I guess I shouldn’t call him old, he’s here, which is great for me. And to see a lot of the guys, my peers, my sergeant major that I served well with for quite a few years. So this is great to see some of these people. So it’s an honor and a pleasure and I wish you well.”
Also in attendance was Middletown Mayor Sebastian N. Giuliano. “It is fitting and proper that we dedicate this little patch of ground right here for all those who served in the 43rd,
including those who are living and those who have passed on,” said Giuliano.
Another guest speaker in attendance, National Commander of the 43rd Infantry Division Veterans Association, Col. William Coffey, addressed the veterans and their families.
“You stand up to be seen, you speak up to be heard and you shut up to be appreciated,” said Coffey of public speaking. “If you look up ‘monument’ in the dictionary, it tells you different things that can become monuments. The key word throughout all the definitions is ‘remembrance.’ We are here to remember a unit … it’s all really about the people.”
“John Kennedy put it in a nice way — ‘Poor is the nation that has no heroes, shameful is the nation that, having them, forgets.’ And that’s what we’re here today to do is to remember the people that made that monument possible.”
He concluded, “Will Rogers once said, ‘We all can’t be heroes. Some of us have to stand on the curb and clap when they go by.’ Thank you for coming today and clapping with me.”
Commissioner Schwartz, Deputy Commissioner Perkins, Mayor Giuliano, National Commander Col. William Coffey and 43rd Secretary Thiede then each took a specially painted shovel and together they dug into the prepared dirt pile and tossed over the soil “breaking ground”
After the groundbreaking, speakers, veterans and their families mingled with each other and looked at the six bronze plaques and engraved brick samples.
CT-N was there and the video of the groundbreaking ceremony can be seen at:
http://ct-n.com/ondemand.asp?ID=6827
On Monday, June 18, 2012, the 43d Monument took its long ride down from Vermont to the Connecticut State Veterans Cemetery in Middletown. The small truck mounted crane unloaded and set the base stone, but the middle section was just a little too heavy for it, so Zocco Memorials, Inc from Bloomfield, CT had brought down a second crane just for that part.
It was quite the challenge as there are many trees with overhanging branches in the area that the operator had to negotiate around to be able to place the stone. He actually had to raise the section straight up from the truck bed about 40 feet off the ground, and then swing the crane arm around. It was a sight watching this stone come straight down through the branches like a descending UFO of some sort!
Then the smaller truck with its crane came back and set the top stone in place. After much measuring and tweaking, everything lined up and the process was complete.
The dedication ceremony for the 43d Memorial Monument & Brickwalk was held on September 22, 2012 with over 150 people in attendance. It was a nice sunny day with mild temperatures, and the event lasted about 2 hours in all.
We were glad to be able to open the ceremony with the Posting of the Colors including the 43d Division flag, by the Cadets from the Barque Eagle Division of the US Naval Sea Cadet Corps. Guest speakers included the mayor of Middletown, CT, Daniel T. Drew, the Commissioner of Veterans’ Affairs, Linda Schwartz, and the present 43rd Infantry Division Association National Commander, Colonel (Retired) William T. Coffey, Jr. After the short but eloquent thoughts about the 43d Division, the monument was uncovered by the Barque Eagle Color Guard.