Manchester NH World War II Memorial
On the 8 sides: Front: World War II Veterans Memorial A Promise Fulfilled. Side 2 Victory Side 3 Country Side 4 Liberty Side 5 WWII Veterans Memorial Manchester NH Side 6 Loyalty Side 7 Honor We dedicate our Manchester World War II Veteran's Memorial to honor the men and women from Manchester who served their country in the armed services during World War II God bless them and God bless America Memorial dedicated on Sunday August 23, 2009. Side 8 Valor.
As mentioned, there is also a smaller marker that has this inscription:
Plaque Text
You stand before a promise fulfilled. Back on Sept. 17, 1944, more than 15,000 people gathered here on the Merrimack Common as the city of Manchester unveiled an honor roll, a monument to recognize the men and women from the queen city who were serving in World War II.
"I accept with pleasure and pride, this very elegant and original, though temporary honor roll," said Mayor Josaphat T. Benoit.
It was temporary, but it was elegant nonetheless. A 12-foot hexagonal design on a concrete foundation, with weather-proof plywood panels covered with glass
this page online
There were 8,517 names on the honor roll that first day.
As the war raged on, there were more and more names added to the monument, which was a magnet for friends, family members and just plain passers-by. As more and more men and women from Manchester joined the armed forces, more and more names were added to the honor roll.
As the names multiplied, so did the challenges that confronted the honor roll. Indifference and the elements conspired against the wooden monument, which fell into disrepair, and in 1958,the honor roll was dismantled and destroyed.
Now more that half a century later, a dedicated group of volunteers has recreated that honor roll, a permanent one, at what we know today as Veterans Park.
The people of Manchester made a promise to those who went off to serve during World War II. It was a promise to remember their courage and their sacrifice. You stand before a promise fulfilled.
John Clayton
Author/Columnist
Erected 2009 by City of Manchester NH.
Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World II.
Location. 42° 59.301′ N, 71° 27.749′ W. Marker is in Manchester, New Hampshire, in Hillsborough County. It is in Downtown. Memorial is on Elm Street, on the right.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Manchester NH Civil War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Manchester NH War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Christos Kalivas (approx. 0.2 miles away); City Hall (approx. 0.2 miles away); Manchester's First Green Roof (approx. 0.2 miles away); Brigadier General John Stark (approx. 0.2 miles away); Governor Moody Currier Gateway Entrance (approx. ¼ mile away); Valley Cemetery (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manchester.
Regarding Manchester NH World War II Memorial. I did some research, and Manchester's population between 1940 and 1945 was around 78 to 80 Thousand. That is quite a large percentage of volunteers from the city!
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 21, 2016, by James R. Murray of Elkton, Florida. This page has been viewed 612 times since then and 53 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 21, 2016, by James R. Murray of Elkton, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
