The Town of Lyme has a new memorial to honor and recognize its veterans. The results, situated between the Lyme Town Hall and Lyme Public Library, were unveiled on Nov. 9, as about 200 people looked on.
First Selectman Ralph Eno officiated at the ceremonies, which continued the town’s tradition of recognizing its veterans who have passed on since the last Veterans Day. Seven men were honored by a one-gun salute, a rendition of “Taps,” and a moment of silence.
The memorial was unveiled by a group of Lyme veterans who all enlisted from Lyme, served in a foreign war, and returned to the community: World War II veterans Emil Ewankow, Paul Harper, Allen Plimpton, and John Yoemans; Korean Conflict veterans Donald Babcock, Lawrence Dayett, and Frederick Latham; Vietnam veterans John Giaconia and Bruce Stark; and David Lahm, who served in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Eno and state Sen. Eileen Daily and state Rep. Marilyn Giuliano, both recently re-elected, acknowledged the need for the country and communities to not forget the needs of veterans returning from the ongoing wars and foreign assignments, as well as those of older veterans.
“There are more women veterans out there now than ever before,” stated American Legion State Commander Harvey Daggett, who also spoke at the ceremonies.
“Being a veteran requires a lot of sacrifice on our part,” said Lt. Col Lahm, a member of the Rhode Island National Guard, who spoke on behalf of town veterans. “But there’s one group of people who continue make sacrifices and are often left out or forgotten. That’s the wives and children. I think those are the ones who strive and have the commitment and suffer in silence, staying behind in support of their veterans.”
The ad hoc Lyme Veterans Committee was made up of Red Anderson, who served as a Navy fighter pilot in the 1950s; Don Babcock, who spent nine months on the front lines in Korea; submariner Rich Dominy; Army veterans Tom Davies and Ernie Lammer, whose son Josh has served in Iraq; and Jim Beers, a war re-enactor. He serves as the group’s secretary-treasurer.
Anderson credits Dominy for initiating the memorial effort in 2000. Dominy comes from a military family, with his father serving in WWI, two brothers in WWII, another in Korea, and two in Vietnam.
The group raised about $8,500, between its annual pig roast dinner and contributions from the groups, businesses, and individuals, ranging from the Lyme Fire Department and the Lyme Public Hall to Essex Savings Bank, and others that contributed equipment and work.
Eno thanked the ad hoc committee for its gumption and efforts.
“The Lyme Veterans Monument Committee saw a need, in true Lyme fashion, they tackled the project and brought it to successful completion without any muss and fuss,” he said. “I know they didn’t anticipate getting any special recognition for their efforts. It’s really a striking testament to their commitment, ongoing, to veterans, not only of the town of Lyme, but throughout the United States.”
This memorial complements the town’s existing monument, the eagle statue across the road from the Lyme Consolidated School, Anderson said. The group plans to add a night light pole and wrought-iron fencing around that memorial, which was erected in 1944. There also is a memorial to WWI veterans in front of the Lyme First Congregational Church.
By Suzanne Thompson
Special to the Times
The Lyme Veterans Memorial was officially dedicated at a smaller ceremony on Nov. 11. Anyone who wishes to support the memorial can contact Red Anderson at 961-2820.