LYNN — The city has been awarded a $13,460 state grant to replace two outdated cabinets to more appropriately display the names of Lynn war veterans and other military memorabilia.
James Marsh, the city’s community development director, said Michael Murray and his office, in conjunction with the city’s veterans office, applied for the grant to purchase two new display cabinets for military items, which would be placed in the same location in the foyer at City Hall, in the area designated as the veterans foyer.
Marsh said the grant is through the office of Secretary of the Commonwealth William Francis Galvin and the Preservation Grants for Veterans Collections, Monuments and Memorials Program. He said the city was informed it had received funding through the program last week and is responsible for matching the grant. Together, the city and state funding would cover the cost of the two cabinets.
Marsh said the names of all Lynn veterans who served in WWI, WWII, the Korean War, Vietnam War, and since Sept. 11, 2001, are currently being housed in shabby, 1970s glass laminate cases, but city officials thought it would be more appropriate to put in more beautiful oak cabinets. The cabinets also house various plaques, flags and other related veteran memorabilia.
“It’s a small grant, but what we are doing with the funding is significant,” Marsh said. “The memorabilia and names of those who served deserve to be housed and showcased in a first class manner. Our next step is to identify matching funds. We have about a year to do so.”
Mike Sweeney, director of veterans services for the city, said the existing cabinets have been there for well over a quarter century and officials are trying to upgrade them.
Sweeney said he wanted to thank Murray and Marsh from community development for helping the veterans office obtain the grant, which is the beginning of the process. He has been with the veterans office for about 14 years and replacing the cabinets has always been a goal.
Sweeney said the new museum-style cabinets, in addition to providing a better display, would be more protective of the items. He said City Hall was built by WWII veterans and the building itself is dedicated to veterans.
“The reason I’m excited about it is it’s just not about getting a nice display in City Hall,” Sweeney said. “It’s really in keeping with what we should be doing as a city and a country, and that’s making sure we honor veterans appropriately.”
Marsh said the city is also applying for another state grant for about the same amount with a match to put in about 10 information stanchions at the Grand Army of the Republic Hall (GAR). He said the funding would be through the Essex Heritage Partnership grant program and was brought to the community development department’s attention by Mayor Thomas M. McGee’s office.
