This is a two-sided memorial that honors Southampton's veterans that served in America's 20th…read morecentury wars. One side is dedicated to the WW I vets. The other side is dedicated to the WW II vets and was updated to add recognition to the Korean and Vietnam vets. The memorial is located on a tiny green at a traffic island. A stone monument has a metal plaque on each side for WWI and WW II, A stone curb was added at the foot of the WW II side for Korea and Vietnam. The WW I plaque bears this inscription above the names: Erected by the citizens of Southampton, MA In honor of the men and women from this community who so nobly served their country in the world war 1917-1919 The WW II plaque bears this inscription above the names: Proudly we pay tribute To the men and women of Southampton Who answered their country's call in World War II The Korea and Vietnam inscription reads: In honor of the sons and daughters Of the town of Southampton who so nobly Served their country during the Korean And Vietnam conflicts

The Soldiers and Sailors Monument consists of two spectacular bronze sculptures that stand on the…read morefront steps at the entrance of Memorial Hall. As you stand in front of the building and face the front door, a sculpture of a sailor stands to the right of the door and a sculpture of a soldier stands to the left. Memorial Hall was built in 1872 to honor the memory of the 90 Northampton residents who perished during the Civil War. The building has served as a library and museum over the years. The soldier and sailor are dressed in period uniform. The soldier holds his rifle vertically and the sailor holds a telescope in his right hand. It's a very cool monument -you get the feeling that the soldier and sailor are standing guard outside of the building -ever vigilant and ever dutiful.

Growing up in NYC, I often heard about the "Pulaski Skyway" on the traffic reports. It's a bridge…read moreconnecting Newark to Jersey City. Yesterday in Northampton, I came across a monument that honors that bridge's namesake, none other than Revolutionary War Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski. In 1745, he was born into an upper class family in Poland, fought the Russians in Europe and then came to America and served in the Continental army under George Washington. He organized a light infantry division that was known as the Pulaski Cavalry. This earned him a lasting legacy as "the father of the American cavalry". He was fatally wounded during the siege of Savannah on October 11, 1779 and was awarded honorary United States citizenship. The granite Pulaski monument is located in Pulaski Park, next to the City Hall. It has a bust of General Pulaski engraved into the top of the monument. The inscription reads: To perpetuate The memory of Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski An American Revolutionary War Hero Who, from wounds received at the siege of Savannah Georgia, died on October eleventh 1779. -------- This memorial is erected in testimony of respect by his fellow Polish-American citizens of Northampton, Mass. October eleventh 1929 The monument sits on a square granite base which is inscribed: Pulaski

In 2011, the Town of Southampton erected two beautiful monuments to honor its veterans of America's…read more18th and 19th century wars. Some of those vets died 250 years ago, some before the United States was even created. How awesome is it that these long forgotten names have been immortalized? The left plaque honors those who were killed between 1744 and 1748 in King George's War, between 1754 and 1783 in the French and Indian War, and between 1775 and 1783 in the Revolutionary War. The right plaque honors those who were killed in the War of 1812, between 1861 and 1865 in the Civil War, and in 1898 in the Spanish American War. Both plaques are installed to granite slabs and sit in a pretty little park with a stone bench, flowers and landscaping.

Springfield's South End has long been a home for Italian Americans, and the streets still have…read moreItalian groceries and specialty shops. In front of the Mom and Rico market is a private monument to one of the greatest Italian American athletes of all time, Heavyweight Champion Rocky Marciano who bludgeoned his way through 49 fights without a single loss between 1952 and 1956. He defended his championship six times. He retired undefeated! Sadly, he died in a plane crash at the age of 46. The monument is a simple gray granite slab with a drawing of Marciano in the ring throwing a left. The inscription reads: In Memory Of Rocky Marciano Undefeated Heavyweight Champion 1952-1956 49-0 43-KO's Sept. 1, 1923 -- August 31, 1969 Dedicated Aug. 31, 1989

Located at the center of South Hadley Commons, the encryption describes its purpose. It reads,…read more"This monument is erected to commemorate the loyalty and patriotism of our citizen soldiers who fought for Liberty and the Union in the Great Rebellion of 1861-1865." The phrasing is formal and resolute, echoing the language of 19th-century civic pride and solemn remembrance. It's a clear statement of intent--this is not just a marker, but a tribute to local men who served in the Civil War, framed through the lens of duty and sacrifice. South Hadley sent 224 of its citizens to fight in the Civil War. Many were likely still living in town when the monument was dedicated in 1896, making it not just a tribute but a living memory for the community. The statue, believed to be the work of sculptor Jerome Connor, is part of a broader tradition across New England, where nearly every town common features a Civil War memorial--testament to the war's profound local impact. The memorial itself is modest in scale but dignified in presence. Set on a grassy rise with benches nearby, it invites quiet reflection rather than grandeur. The stonework is weathered but intact, and the names etched into its surface remain legible--a testament to the care taken in its upkeep. There are no elaborate sculptures or dramatic flourishes, just a simple obelisk form that aligns with the understated style of many small-town war memorials from the early 20th century. What stands out most is its placement: not tucked away in a cemetery or beside a courthouse, but right in the heart of the Commons, where daily life unfolds around it. Children play nearby, neighbors chat, and the monument remains a silent witness to both history and community. It's a reminder that remembrance doesn't require spectacle--just presence, intention, and a place where memory can live alongside the everyday. [Review 1128 of 2025 - 1271 in Massachusetts - 24681 overall]

I grew up in the Bronx on a street named Gates Place. The next street over from Gates was Knox…read morePlace. Both streets were named after Revolutionary War Generals - Horatio Gates and Henry Knox. Henry Knox was a real hero of the Revolutionary War and his exploits have been memorialized in a series of 56 bronze plaques throughout Massachusetts and New York. Knox led an expedition that attacked and defeated the British at Fort Ticonderoga in New York. The real prize of that victory was 59 cannons that Knox commandeered and transported by ox-driven wagons all the way to Boston to drive out the Brits. Many historians consider this chain of events, led by Knox, to be the turning point of the Revolutionary War. The Henry Knox Cannon Trail traces the path that Knox travelled to transport those cannons from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston in the winter of 1775-1776. The Westfield marker is located at the intersection of Main Street (U.S. 20) and U.S. 202, in front of the Tavern Restaurant It's inscription reads: Through this Place Passed General Henry Knox In the Winter of 1775 - 1776 To Deliver To General George Washington At Cambridge The Train of Artillery From Fort Ticonderoga Used To Force the British Army To Evacuate Boston Erected by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1927

"Talk about the life in Massachusetts Speak about the people…read moreI have seen And the lights all went out in Massachusetts And Massachusetts is one place I have seen" (The Bee Gees) Quiz time! Q: Who was Vice President and 30th President of the United States? A: Calvin Coolidge Bonus Question Q: Before he was Vice President, what state was he a governor of? A: Massachusetts Coolidge settled in Northampton, MA after he graduated from Amherst College, and launched a legal career that led to a lifetime of public service and eventually the White House. The monument has a stone bust of the man known as "Silent Cal" sitting atop a base that lists the milestones of Coolidge's life: 1872   Born Plymouth, Vt. 1895   Graduate, Amherst College 1897   Admitted Mass. Bar Assoc. 1898   City Councilor, Northhampton 1901   City Solicitor, Northamptonton 1906, 1907   State Rep, Mass. 1909, 1910   Mayor, City Of Northampton 1911--1914   State Senator, Mass. 1913, 1914   President, Mass, Senate 1915--1917   Lt Governor, Mass. 1918 , 919   Governor, Mass. 1921--1923   Vice President, U.S.A. 1923--1929   30th President, U.S.A. 1933   Died Northampton, Mass.