Swampscott unveils new monument

SWAMPSCOTT – After the Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm monument was dedicated Wednesday morning, Veterans Agent James Schultz turned his attention to a Global War on Terror monument.”The Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm monument is not a replacement for the Global War on Terror monument,” he said. “It is something we were working on before there was even any discussion of a Global War on Terror monument but some people don’t realize we’re talking about two separate monuments and two separate conflicts.”Wednesday morning during Veterans Day ceremonies in town the new monument honoring 26 residents from Swampscott who served in Desert Shield/Desert Storm was unveiled.The keynote speaker Wednesday morning was Navy Master Chief David DiPietro who joked when giving remarks he realized he must be getting old when he saw his name on the new monument.Dealing with the monument for the Global War on Terror, residents were invited to submit a sketch of a design for the proposed monument. The initial deadline for submissions was Wednesday but Schultz said the deadline has been extended.”Residents are welcome to drop off a design in the selectmen’s office in Town Hall,” he said. “It should be on an 8 1/2-by-11-inch piece of paper.”The selectmen appointed a committee to oversee the Global War on Terror monument after a firestorm of controversy erupted over a monument that was being donated to the town. After accepting the gift of the Global War on Terror monument, selectmen rescinded acceptance of the monument after some vocal opposition from residents who believed the monument was inappropriate for the historic Monument Avenue area.Shultz, Selectman Eric Walker, former Selectman Paul Levenson, architect Richard Smith and Historical Commission designee Lou Gallo are on the committee. Cindy Blonder, whose husband Jeffrey served in Afghanistan, and Jaclyn Raymond, who is the mother of Army Specialist Jared Raymond, who was killed in action Sept. 19, 2006 while serving with the 1st Battalion 66th Armored Regiment 4th Infantry Division in Iraq, are also on the committee.Levenson said the committee discussed ways to honor those who have served, are serving and will serve in the Afghanistan and Iraq theaters of operations. Because it is an ongoing conflict, Levenson said the idea is to include the names of those currently serving, those who have served and to have the ability to add names as the conflict continues.”We want to honor all those who served as well as those who (died),” he said.Schultz said tax deductible donations are being accepted to help pay for the proposed monument. Donations may be sent to Swampscott Veterans Trust Fund, c/o Veterans Services, 22 Monument Ave., Swampscott, MA 01907.