|
We Are Still Fighting for Freedom
By Joseph M. Hayes, Torrington
This letter is in response to a recent letter written by Newton D. Holbrook regarding the Coe Memorial Park [Coe vs. Veterans, December 21]. I am currently the Senior Vice Commander of the Torrington V.F.W. Post 9086, and I was previously Commander for nine years. During my time as Commander or Sr. Vice Commander, I never heard Coe Memorial Park referred to as the "Veterans Memorial Park."
When the Alvord home was to be demolished, the executor of the Alvord estate, Brooks Bank, challenged the owner of the property, the City of Torrington, in court. The court ruled that the building could be removed, and a veterans’ memorial building erected there for the general use of the public for civic purposes. The building was later erected and named the "Coe Memorial" building. (Was pressure placed on the Torrington administration?)
As for the howitzer, I do not believe it to be a symbol of destruction, but a symbol of freedom that I and many thousands of men and women fought to protect. You should remember that freedom is not free and that we had to fight for it then—and we are still fighting for it now! This howitzer was—and still is—an instrument that helped keep our freedom, so that you and I can continue to have free speech, free press, and freedom of religion.
The 155mm howitzer that is in Coe Park at the present time replaced a captured German field cannon that was donated to the scrap drive for World War II in 1942. After much research and expense, in November 1995 the howitzer was placed in approximately the same location as the German cannon.
Mr. Holbrook asked in his letter why the Torrington V.F.W. does not have a home of its own. That is a very simple question—money! The Torrington V.F.W. was never offered the Armory or any other building. He stated that every other town that he's been through has its own building and club. Take a look around at some of our local communities: the New Hartford Post 2390 uses their local firehouse for their meetings; the Harwinton Post 7008 uses the Community Hall; the Litchfield/ Bantam Post 10199 uses St. Anthony's Church; the Norfolk Post 2927 uses members’ homes; just to name a few.
| 
