May 27, 2024, Happy Memorial Day. Honoring the fallen with a moment of silence and then a review of…read morea beautiful soldiers' monument located in Central Park in New Britain, CT. This 44 feet limestone tomb was dedicated in September 1900. There are various steles nearby, commemorating soldiers that served various wars. This memorial is dedicated to the soldiers in New Britain who served in the Civil War. The monument was intricately designed by an architect; it has a bronze crown and inscriptions throughout. The bronze crown is known as the winged victory; a statue of a winged female with her arms stretched like she's flying. It's a very beautiful obelisk, the best i've seen. The marble has names of soldiers and those who were involved with the creation/dedication of this monument engraved on it. The words engraved on there were very meaningful, sentimental, solemn; it touched my soul: "oh rare and royal / was the sacrifice with malice toward / none with charity / for all with firm / ness in the right / lincoln this monument is built in grateful remembrance of the soldiers and sailors who in the war to maintain the union offered their lives in the cause of mankind that coming generations taught by their example may cherish the fruits of their valor and devotion and make their memory immortal for you and me they / put their armor on let us have peace / grant for you and me they / stood in grim array liberty and union / now and forever / one inseparable / webster mdccclxi - mdccclxverected by thecitizens of new britainmdcccxcix they joined the mortal / struggle and went down to heroes living / and dear martyrs / dead / lowell" Thank you to all the veterans who sacrificed, served, and protected our country; in the past, in the present, and in the future.

This ornate monument was built in 1900, and for something that's been around for nearly twelve…read moredecades it is definitely showing signs of its age. Nevertheless, this is a glorious work of art. It honors soldiers from New Britain that served in the Civil War. It's a huge monument, over 50 feet tall and topped by a gold statue of "Winged Victory". There are inscriptions and sculpted panels everywhere you look -a globe, a wreath, torches, tablets. lion heads, and four stone columns that list sixty-four Civil War battles. The monument is showing evidence of streaked staining and some of the inscriptions are a little hard to read. Here are some of the many inscriptions: With Malice Toward None With Charity For All With Firmness In The Right (Lincoln) Oh Rare And Royal Was The Sacrifice Let Us Have Peace (Grant) For You And Me They Put Their Armor On This Monument Is Built In Grateful Remembrance Of The Soldiers And Sailors Who In The War To Maintain The Union Offered Their Lives In The Cause Of Mankind That Coming Generations Taught By Their Example May Cherish The Fruits Of Their Valor And Devotion And Make Their Memory Immortal For You And Me They Stood In Grim Array To Heroes Living And Dear Martyrs Dead They Joined The Mortal Struggle And Went Down MDCCCLXI - MDCCCLXV Erected By The Citizens Of New Britain MDCCCXCIX

This memorial is located inside Simsbury's historic cemetery behind it's metal gates that run along…read moreHopmeadow Street. The cemetery is the final resting place for several of the town's Revolutionary War veterans. The memorial consists of a bronze plaque mounted on a flat stone. The top of the plaque has a color image of the continental flag and an image of a colonial soldier. The plaque's inscription reads: 1775 - 1783 We, the people of the Town of Simsbury, do hereby recognized the many hardships and countless sacrifices made by all those brave American Revolutionary Soldiers; especially those from Simsbury, who died for our freedom from England. We hereby dedicate this bronze memorial plaque as an everlasting tribute to these American heroes, whose gallant and brave efforts brought us to the birth of the United States of America and adoption of the Constitution. To these courageous countrymen, we are eternally grateful. Thirty three names and their ranks follow, and it's interesting to see so many different titles -Fifer, Private, Ensign, Captain, Major, Lieutenant, Corporal. The memorial was funded by the Ensign Bickford Company and dedicated on Veteran's Day, November 11, 2005. The simplicity of the memorial, the vibrant color of the flag emblem, the quiet setting of the cemetery, and the knowledge that Revolutionary War veterans are buried there, combine to make a pretty powerful statement.

This is one huge and spectacular monument! It has not one, not two, but three incredibly detailed…read moresculptures of Union soldiers. The monument looks to be gray granite, and at the very top (must be 20' off the ground!) is a soldier wearing a long coat and a cap. He holds a sword in one hand and a flag in the other. Below the first soldier are two others on a lower tier; an artilleryman and an infantryman. They are in full period uniform with coats and vests, a cape, and rifles. A third tier on the monument has all sorts of relief sculpture designs like crossed rifles, swords, an anchor, cannons, and an army insignia. The monument was dedicated on July 15, 1916. It is in terrific condition! A very cool inscription on the front of the monument reads: UNIONVILLE HONORS THE EARTH THAT WRAPS HER HEROES CLAY 1861-1865 They sure had a way with words 100 years ago! The marker is at the intersection of Lovely Street (Route 177) and Farmington Avenue (Route 4), on the property of the Unionville First Church of Christ

This monument was unveiled in 1888 and the infantryman on top faces south, hands on his upturned…read morerifle. He appears to be dressed in appropriate Civil War garb. Below him, the dedication reads "Suffield erects this memorial in honor of her citizen soldiers who died serving their country that the Union might be preserved. 1861-65." The East face of monument lists the 31 Suffield residents lost in the War Between the States. It also mentions Sharpsburg where the bloody 1862 Battle of Antietam was fought. The north face bears an intricate state of Connecticut seal and honors Fort Wagner in South Carolina. The west face displays crossed cannon representing the artillery and lists Andersonville, a town of Georgia where a large Confederate prisoner of war camp was built. The monument is located on a grass square to the south of Kent Memorial Library where there is parking. [Review 15195 overall, 697 of 2021, number 45 in Connecticut.]

Standing in the Town Green where Routes 159 and 168 cross stands a granite sculpture of a Union…read moresoldier. The soldier and the pedestal must be at least 20 feet tall. This memorial was dedicated way back in 1888. The soldier, as in so many of the Civil War memorials I have seen, is holding the barrel of his rifle while the rifle butt rests on the ground. The monument is dedicated to those from Suffield who died in the Civil War. Inscribed on the front panel of the pedestal are the words: SUFFIELD ERECTS THIS MEMORIAL IN HONOR OF HER CITIZEN SOLDIERS, WHO DIED SERVING THEIR COUNTRY, THAT THE UNION MIGHT BE PRESERVED. 1861 - 65. There is also an inscription In the stone border above the panels that reads: 1888 SHARPSBURG FT. WAGNER ANDERSONVILLE The memorial's inscriptions are becoming difficult to read, I guess this can be expected since it is 125 years old. There is also a civil war cannon standing on the Town Green in close proximity to the memorial.

The Patriots of Windsor memorial is on the Village Green set just behind Broad Street…read more It's directly across from the library and is easily visible from Broad Street. The statue is a large bronze eagle with outstretched wings, set on a stone base. It bears a rather short inscription, "To The Patriots Of Windsor". It was sculpted by Evelyn Beatrice Longman and was dedicated on November 3, 1929. It's listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Next time you're in Simsbury, and happen to be driving by Abigail's Restaurant- take a look at the…read moreSouthbound side of Hopmeadow Street and take in the majestic Civil War Monument. The monument was dedicated on July 4, 1895 - 30 years after the "War of the Rebellion" ended. It consists of a granite pedestal base that supports a full body sculpture of a standing soldier holding the barrel of a rifle in his hands. The butt of the rifle rests on the ground in front of him. There are 194 names carved into panels on the base of the statue. A inscription on the monument reads: ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF UNION SOLDIERS IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION 1861-1865 The monument is considered significant because it included seven names from "Colored Regiments"; an acknowledgement not often seen on similar monuments. One hundred years later, in 1995, the monument was rededicated with a bronze plaque honoring the 37 Simsbury natives that were killed in the Civil War. The plaque's inscription reads: "Dedicated to all veterans of the Civil War (1861-1865) Who Fought to Preserve This Great Republic. Especial Honor is Paid to the 37 Men from Simsbury Who Sacrificed Their Lives To Achieve This Purpose".

You gotta love a statue of a swashbuckling dude brandishing a sword, right?…read more Say hello to Thomas Knowlton and the rather impressive statue in his honor on the lawn at the State Capitol. In 1740, Knowlton was born in West Boxford, MA and moved to Ashford, CT as a child. As a boy, he served in the French and Indian War. He served in the Revolutionary War as a scout and eventually rose to the rank of Colonel -leading a group known as Knowlton's Rangers. He was in charge of 200 Connecticut soldiers at the Battle of Bunker Hill, and was killed at the Battle of Harlem Heights on September 16, 1776. There is a plaque on the base of the statue with this inscription: In Memory Of Col. Thomas Knowlton Of Ashford Conn. Who as a boy served in several campaigns in the French and Indian Wars Shared in the siege and capture of Havana in 1762 Was in immediate command of Connecticut troops at the Battle of Bunker Hill Was with his commands closely attached to the person of Washington And was killed at the Battle of Harlem Heights September 16 1776 At the age of thirty-six The monument was dedicated on November 13, 1895. It's a perfect example of why I love to review these sorts of monuments -it's a great combination of a spectacular piece of art and a great human story of heroism and patriotism.

So how many "Father of ____" have you heard of? Father of Rock and Roll? Father of the atomic bomb?…read moreFather of our nation? Well, how about the Father of the Dental Profession? I kid you not, because Windsor CT is the home of a memorial plaque honoring just that -Horace H. Hayden, MD and DDS - the Father of Dentistry ! The bronze plaque is mounted on a boulder across the street from the Palisado Green next to the Hezekiah Chaffee House. The plaque reads: To The Memory Of Horace H. Hayden, M.D., D.D.S. "The Father Of The Dental Profession" Born In Windsor, October, 13, 1769 Died In Baltimore, January, 26, 1844 Architect Geologist Teacher Soldier And Acting-Surgeon In The War Of 1812-1814 Associated As Founder With Chapin A. Harris, M.D., D.D.S. And Was First President And Professor Of The Principles Of Dental Science In The Baltimore College Of Dental Surgery The First Dental College In The World 1840 - 1844 Founder And First President Of The American Society Of Dental Surgeons 1840 - 1844 Erected By The Hartford Dental Society 1907 How bizarre is that??