NEW BRITAIN HERALD ARTICLE – 08/07/2025
By Brian M. Johnson – Great write up!
"NEW BRITAIN — Local leaders and members of veterans’ organizations gathered in Central Park Thursday for the dedication of a new monument to honor Purple Heart recipients and disabled veterans.
The new monument is "dedicated to the brave individuals who have received a Purple Heart or sustained any injury or illness related to their time serving in the United States military.”
Rachel Zaniewski, communications director with the City of New Britain Mayor’s Office, said that when the local Northwestern TGM Veterans group came together to erect the Global War On Terror monument in Central Park in 2017, they "had the foresight to add an extra base to the far right for a future monument to balance out the geometry of the site.”
"Since the City of New Britain was officially designated as a Purple Heart City back in 2023, the New Britain Veterans Commission had the idea to install a monument honoring those who had received a Purple Heart as well as any veteran who suffered an injury or illness related to their time in the service,” she said. "The Franco American War Veterans Post 26 and Society St. Jean Baptiste made a significant donation to make this project a reality.”
The dedication ceremony, which coincided with "National Purple Heart Day”, was held at Central Park across from City Hall, near the other war monuments.
Retired Major Daniel M. Eddinger, commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, and Staff Sergeant Steven Wilk spoke at the ceremony. Other Purple Heart recipients were among the veterans present in the audience.
Eddinger enlisted in the military in 1965 and went to Vietnam in 1967. He received two wounds the following year during the Tet Offensive. He said the Purple Heart medal originated as a recognition given by George Washington and became official in 1932.
Though he is legally blind due to macular degeneration, he said that whenever anyone comes up to thank him for his service he replies, "It was my honor, you were worth it.”
Wilk enlisted in 2001 and served in Afghanistan in 2005 and then again from 2007 to 2013. In 2015 he re-enlisted and continues to serve today, repairing Black Hawk helicopters. He served in Iraq and Kuwait in 2023 and 2024 as a quality control inspector. He received his purple heart 15 years ago on Aug. 7 in Afghanistan. He said that he was "very honored” to be a part of the ceremony.
"For me, it is important to honor those who were wounded and lost their lives in combat,” he said. "They didn’t just serve their country, they also gave their lives and made the ultimate sacrifice for their fellow servicemen.”
Leaders of local veterans groups, Mayor Erin Stewart and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, also spoke to show their appreciation to those who served and those who made the new monument possible. Passing cars honked in support of the gathered veterans.
A purple heart flag was raised on the city flagpole, which will be up for seven days. The Beehive Bridge will also glow purple at night for a week in honor of the dedication.
John Buckley, chair of the New Britain Veterans Commission, thanked everyone who stopped by that day.
"There are people among us who suffer every day from Armed Services related health issues as well as families who lost loved ones in combat,” Buckley said. "Oftentimes this is unknown to the people in their circle, they just experience continual quiet sacrifice. This monument honors them in perpetuity from a grateful city.”
After a presentation of the colors by Disabled American Veterans Hardware City Chapter 8, Terry Crescimanno, commissioner with the City New Britain Veterans Commission sang The National Anthem. An invocation was then provided by Rev. Michael T. Casey of St. Francis of Assisi Church. Casey asked God to keep those who made the ultimate sacrifice alive in the hearts and minds of their loved ones and to welcome them into his kingdom of justice and peace.
Memorial wreaths were placed on the monument. It was then unveiled by Mark Morin, commander of Franco-American War Veterans Post 26 in New Britain and Gary Leclerc, president of the Society St. Jean Baptiste in New Britain. These two organizations contributed significant funding to the new monument.
The monument bears the inscriptions "all gave some, some gave all” and "dedicated to all combat wounded veterans.” It also reads "honoring all ill and injured veterans who served their country faithfully.” The monument also bears a plaque on the reverse side with the names of all who contributed toward the creation of the monument.
Veterans Commissioner Jamie Vaughan did the professional graphic design of this monument, and the New Britain Memorial Funeral Home teamed up with Shoreline Memorials to create the monument, Zaniewski said.
A ceremonial volley was fired by the Marine Corps League Hardware City Detachment and "Taps” was played.”
Buckley shared that his father had been a prisoner of war for five months, captured by the Germans during World War II. He said his father watched as one of his friends was hit by a shell from a German 88mm gun, and that his ears continued to ring for 50 years after. Buckley also spoke about his son, who served in Afghanistan twice with the National Guard. During his son’s service, he said at least one member of his unit died every year by suicide.
Stewart spoke to the service of her grandfathers, who served in World War II and Korea, and her great uncle John Badolato, who made the ultimate sacrifice in World War II. Today, the city parking garage is named The Badolato Garage in his honor. Stewart said the new monument would serve as a reminder so people would "never forget those who sacrificed so much for our freedom.” She said that she is "deeply grateful” to the organizations who made the new monument possible.
"This new monument honoring those who were injured while serving in our Country’s armed forces will be an incredibly meaningful addition to the monuments that already stand in Central Park,” said Stewart. "I am appreciative to all who came together to make this project happen so that those who have received Purple Hearts or were hurt while in the military will have a permanent token of gratitude from the great City of New Britain.”
