SAUGUS — Volunteers in Saugus are asking residents to help them beautify the Saugus Veterans War Monument by buying a personalized paver.
The park, located at the corner of Winter and Central streets, consists of eight monuments, each representing different wars and conflicts. The monuments were unveiled and dedicated following the annual Veterans Day parade in 2015. A wall at the rear of the site lists the names of Saugus military members past and present. The sprawling list is updated about every two years, said Corinne Riley, a volunteer. The large slabs were removed in August to have additional names engraved.
The black granite monuments honor veterans of the Civil War, Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War and the Global War on Terror.
The park upgrades were sparked in 2014 when the Korean War memorial was installed as a result of a private donation from Rob Sipple in honor of his father, Timothy Kavanaugh, a Korean War veteran, according to a 2015 story in The Item.
The installation of the piece inspired a group of volunteers, the Veterans War Monument Park Committee, to dedicate stones and give veterans, family members, and residents the opportunity to embrace all periods of service at one location.
The group is continuing the effort to keep up the park by selling bricks that will pave pathways throughout the park.
Pavers can be purchased in the name of someone who is presently serving, has served, or in the memory of a loved one. Families, schools, and businesses can also purchase a brick just to show support.
Pricing for the bricks is $100 for a 4 inch by 8 inch brick with three lines of text, $200 for an 8 inch by 8 inch brick with five lines of text, or $500 for a corporate brick.
Each line can fit a maximum of 15 characters and Riley will help donors with customization.
“The improvements and upkeep of the monument on the corner of Winter and Central streets rely on the generosity of donors through fundraising,” said Riley.
All applications must be sent in by Aug. 30 to ensure the bricks are ready for Veterans Day.
For more information, contact Corinne Riley at 781-231-7995.