Welcome to the Trenton Web Site

Welcome

Welcome to the Trenton War Monuments Project Home Page. This project was organized to honor the fallen veterans from Trenton, Michigan who were casualties of foreign wars. Whereas we strive to recognize all that served, it is with a heavy heart that we remember the sixty-one servicemen from the Trenton community who lost their lives while serving in a foreign war.

Current Library Memorial

In 1998 the Veterans Memorial Committee established a memorial recognizing all veterans at the Trenton Veterans Memorial Library. Proudly displayed are a center stone monument, veteran's plaque and stone wall. The American Flag, along with the five military service and POW-MIA flags fly high in the background. Engraved memorial bricks honoring veterans and recognizing non-veteran supporters are displayed in the foreground. Forms to purchase memorial bricks are available at the Trenton City Hall.

Inside the library immediately on the right, is a wall plaque containing the names of the 61 Trenton veterans who sacrificed their lives while engaged in the foreign wars: Spanish-American, WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Lifetime resident and Trenton historian, Jeff Wagar, invested over twenty years of research in order to compile the list of heroes as well as volumes of military and family information for these deceased veterans.

War Monuments Project

The War Monuments Project was launched by the Trenton VFW Post 1888 on June 9, 2010 and approved by the Trenton City Council for fundraising on June 21, 2010. The purpose of this project is to enhance the current memorial site - both inside and out.

Inside the library we are adding two military tribute cases, one on each side of the existing memorial plaque. In these will be displayed military memorabilia of local veterans. Guidelines have been established for those wanting to display their family military memorabilia and are available at the Trenton City Hall. The bookshelf ends will display stately, brass plates engraved with a tribute to each of the 61 deceased veterans.

Outside the library will be added six granite monuments engraved with the names of the 61 deceased veterans and the wars in which they died. A granite slant monument engraved with the POW-MIA emblem will be placed in the center.

In addition, the memorial brick area is being refurbished for dedication day. The War Monuments Committee purchased additional bricks to ensure each of the 61 honored veterans will be represented with a memorial brick. A memorial brick binder has been created and is available at the library reference desk for those interested in easily locating a specific memorial brick. The binder is organized in two segments - alphabetically and by section.

The final enhancement to this memorial is the addition of a Carillon system. Carillons are prevalent at National Cemeteries and will serenely chime appropriate songs with the sounds of Flemish church bells.

Dedication Ceremony

The dedication ceremony will be held at the conclusion of the Trenton Memorial Day Parade in front of the library on Saturday, May 28, 2011. Family members of our fallen will be recognized at a family luncheon immediately following the dedication ceremony.

Lieutenant General Ronald F. Sams, a 1967 Trenton High School graduate, will be attending and leading the unveiling and dedication of the mahogany granite monuments.

Fundraising

If you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to this worthwhile community project, you can do so by picking up a detailed brochure at the Trenton City Hall, Trenton Memorial Veterans Library, Trenton VFW Post 1888 or the Harold Chatell American Legion Post 426. Any funds raised in excess of project costs will be set aside and used toward perpetual care of the memorial site.

Donations can be made by check payable to the "Trenton VFW Post 1888", indicating the "War Monuments Project" on the memo line, and mailed to:

Trenton VFW Post 1888
2763 Veterans Parkway
Trenton, MI 48183