Display Cases To Honor Newtown’s Veterans

Installed In Town Hall’s Lobby

By Shannon Hicks

For years, four oversize frames within the lobby of Edmond Town Hall listed the names of Newtown’s men and women who served in the armed forces between 1941 and 1971. Sandy Hook resident Laurie McCollum wanted to see updated memorials added to the collection, and recently approached the Edmond Town Hall Board of Directors to see if its members would work with her toward that end.

On May 15, Ms McCollum met Hubie Davis, a woodworker based in Sandy Hook, and his son Morgan, at the town hall lobby. The two men were there to install a pair of mahogany cases that Mr Davis created in his studio. Ms McCollum watched proudly as Mr Davis and his son, who is also his apprentice, carefully measured and balanced each case before they were permanently mounted to the wall on either side of the doors leading out from the lobby at 45 Main Street.

The new display cases are nearly identical to the original ones that listed the town’s veterans by name. All six cases measure 42 inches tall by 30 inches wide overall. The new cases, however, were built as shadow boxes so that photos, bios, and other memorabilia can be added to them. The interior of each new cabinet measures 37 by 25 inches, and the cabinets are 1¾ inches deep.

Ms McCollum felt it was important to find someone from town to build the cabinets. The original memorials were designed by William Rasmussen and sponsored by Newtown Chamber of Commerce.

Mr Davis put cork board into the back of each cabinet, which will allow items to be securely fastened into the case. Before he and Morgan left that Friday morning, Mr Davis handed Ms McCollum a set of keys, which will open the display cases when she needs to update the memorials.

A few days later Ms McCollum was back at the town hall, placing the first photos and bios in one of the cases. Dustin Gill (USMC), Rylan McCollum (Ms McColum’s son, also in the Marine Corps) and Kurt Kling (USAF) were the first three troops to be represented in the new cases. Ms McCollum has also placed in there a pair of American flags, a Blue Star banner, and five patches across the bottom of the case, one each for the Coast Guard, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force.

The town hall board was able to give Ms McCollum permission to have two new memorials built, but there was not any money available to pay for them. Ms McCollum put up her own money to get the project started and has been receiving donations from individuals and groups in town, but is hoping more residents will help cover the cost of the cases now that they can see what their donations will pay for.

“The donations have started to come in, which helps pay for the cabinets,” she said. The initial donations will be used to pay for Mr Davis’s time and talent. Donations that are received beyond that amount will be used to help cover the cost of engraving and installing the name plaques for those who served in the armed forces between 1971 and today.

Plenty Of Room For More

Ms McCollum would like residents to know that there is still plenty of space available for troops who are currently serving in the military.

Parents are welcome to contact Ms McCollum if they want to talk about photos or items they would like to put on display. She is even willing, she said, to meet with parents who would like to place items within the display cases themselves.

“Family members and friends can send me pictures and bios of people who are currently serving,” said Ms McCollum. “They don’t necessarily have to be deployed, and it should be anyone in any branch of the armed forces.”

Photos can be as large as 8 by 10 inches. They can be the formal photos done by the military, with the American flag in the background, or other photos as long as they are in keeping with the intended use.

“I don’t want photos of people on the beach or at a party,” said Ms McCollum. “These should be semiformal at least, with people in uniform.”

Monica Duhancik, who works in the town clerk’s office, has heard positive comments about the display cases from others who work in the town hall as well as a few residents who have visited the building in the past few weeks.

“I’ve overheard people say how nice they are, and what a great idea it was for them to be done,” said Ms Duhancik, whose office is immediately off the lobby. “They want to see more.”

Laurie McCollum can be reached at 426-5559.

A 501(c)(3) account has been set up to receive donations for the veterans memorials. Donations of any size, made payable to Project Newtown Troops & Veterans, can be sent to Ms McCollum, 30 Waterview Drive, Sandy Hook CT 06482, or deposited at any branch of Newtown Savings Bank.