The Peru Gazette

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By John T. Ryan

(Click here to see several more photos of Keeseville’s Veterans Memorial Park Dedication) It was very quiet in Peru this Veterans Day so the Gazette traveled to Keeseville where several hundred people turned out for the dedication of that community’s Veterans Memorial Park. The park is located at the corner of Route 9 and Route 22 in the center of the village, and its centerpiece is a beautiful granite monument with an inscription which reads, “Our community honors the courage, sacrifice and devotion of its veterans.” 

Keeseville resident George Moore was the major force in the park’s formation. Moore purchased the property, turned it over to the Village of Keeseville and hired Vermont sculptor Jerry Williams to sculpt the beautiful monument. Moore told the crowd that a similar ceremony was held on this property in 1942 when 4,000 to 5,000 people turned out to honor the 142 men and women from the towns of Keeseville and Chesterfield who were serving in World War II. Following the war, the land was used as an insurance office and Moore said he always wanted to see it return to being a place to honor the community’s veterans. Moore asked his grandson Troy Baraby to read the names of several of the Keeseville veterans who have served the nation in the wars since World War II.

Town of Chesterfield Town Supervisor Gerald Morrow was Master of Ceremonies for the dedication. The invocation was led by Pastor Richard Reese, Ned Hoey led the Veterans Prayer, Joanna D’Ascoli sang the national anthem and VFW Post 1505 Commander Ron Desautels read a poem dedicated to veterans. Tears were in the eyes of many onlookers as Desautels read. He also recognized other commanders: VFW Post 309 Commander Roy Soderberg, American Legion Post 504 Commander Jeff Hewston and Am Vets Post 87 Commander Gil Liberty.