BRASHER — The veterans memorial on the banks of the St. Regis River in Brasher Falls is slowly becoming a must-see for anyone interested in honoring the men and women from St. Lawrence County who have served the country.
American Legion Post 514 Commander James A. Stickney and a crew of volunteers gathered Saturday in the shadow of the A-4 Skyhawk Vietnam-era fighter plane that was installed upon a Clarkson University-designed pedestal in 2016, to produce the newest addition to the monument.
By the end of the day, a path consisting of 1,374 engraved bricks and hundreds of accent bricks was well on its way to completion.
The bricks honor local veterans from the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and up to today.
Mr. Stickney gathered the names for the bricks by scouring local cemeteries, looking in libraries and asking people to share their family histories.
Of the engraved bricks, 1,345 have names on them. He expects to have about 1,000 more names once people learn of the project.
The next 500 names submitted will be included for free.
Information desired for the bricks includes full name, rank, branch, if drafted, primary duty station, any medals and years of service. The bricks have a maximum of four lines, 20 characters per line. Requests can be emailed to winthroplegion@yahoo.com or mailed to PO Box 128, Winthrop.
In addition to the brick pathway, Mr. Stickney will have a bronze plaque added to the plane’s pedestal by Memorial Day.
The plaque will be engraved with the names of veterans who served in Vietnam or assisted in other countries or waters.
The plaque will have 84 names including one person killed in action and 18 who died from exposure to Agent Orange or post-traumatic stress disorder, according to Mr. Stickney.
Mr. Stickney said a $50,000 anonymous gift is paying for the improvements to the Veterans Park, which will include lighting when completed.
On Memorial Day, Post 514 will hold several ceremonies at local cemeteries.
They will be at the Winthrop Cemetery at 9 a.m., Fairview Cemetery at 9:20 a.m., Veterans Park in Lawrenceville at 10 a.m., St. Lawrence Cemetery at 10:20 a.m., St. Patrick’s Cemetery at 11 a.m. and the Veterans Park in Brasher Falls at noon.
If you go
Upcoming Memorial Day ceremonies:
n OGDENSBURG: Vietnam Veterans Memorial at 9 a.m.; Parade on State Street at 10 a.m. followed by ceremony at 11 a.m. at Ogdensburg Cemetery.
n POTSDAM: A service will be held at 9 a.m. Memorial Day, May 27, at Ives Park.
n CAPE VINCENT: Memorial Day observances: 6 a.m.; parade, 11 a.m. Monday, John C. Londraville American Legion Post 832, at 248 E. Broadway. Services at cemeteries and Chaumont monument, 9 a.m.
n LOWVILLE: Memorial Day parade and military honors: Parade, 11 a.m. Monday, through village of Lowville. Military honors follow at Veterans Park.
n MORRISTOWN: Memorial Day service: 10 a.m. Monday, Chapman Park, 406 Morris St. In case of rain, at Morristown Fire Station.