Vietnam Veterans Memorial Plaza at One Ellis Square in Beverly MA.
Ellis Square was dedicated in 1921 and named for World War I veteran Harry Gordon Ellis who was killed in action in 1918. In 1981, Beverly mayor Peter Fortunato built a park within the square, naming it Vietnam Veterans Memorial Plaza at One Ellies Square and dedicated a memorial plaque which served as the original Vietnam Veteran Memorial marker(2)
(1)
Vietnam Memorial Plaza at One Ellis Square offers immense historical significance as it housed the draft office for Vietnam veterans, as well as park benches where draftees sat awaiting their bus to the Fargo building for physicals. Many of Beverly's Vietnam veterans remember departing for the war with friends who would never come back(2)
Understandably, Beverly’s Vietnam Veterans have a strong connection to this area and would like to see the importance of this location and their experiences preserved and honored. They also want to educate the community and younger generations about one of the most divisive wars in U.S history. This is why Beverly is offering a contest for any artist, 18 and above, to design a memorial statue for the Plaza. The criteria for the design can be found in the link provided or the designer can contact Kevin Harutunian at 978-605- 2333, kharutunian@beverlyma.gov, or Denise Deschamps at 978-605-2356, ddeschamps@beverlyma.gov(2)
Bibliography:
- “Frank James Gallant.” SSGT Frank James Gallant, Beverly, MA on Www.VirtualWall.org The Virtual Wall® Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, 23 Oct. 2017, www.virtualwall.org/dg/GallantFJ01a.htm.
- “VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL PLAZA AT ONE ELLIS SQUARE SCULPTURE COMPETITION.” City of Beverly, 2 Aug. 2017, www.beverlyma.gov/vietnam-veterans-memorial-plaza-at-one-ellis-square-sculpture-competition/.
Published by: Jacob Lopez
Nice job with this post. I like the story of the Recruitment Office and the recruits waiting for the bus to take them teh Fargo building for their physicals. Is this written somewhere or was it an oral account by one of the veterans? Can you cite the source? Details on a historical site like you give here are many times lost to history. If you can cite the source, like a person, you will be recording the information for posterity.
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