Placement of century-old battle gun at Seekonk memorial draws support, criticism
By John Krinjak
Email: jkrinjak@abc6.com
Twitter: johnkrinjakABC6
SEEKONK, MA (WLNE) – It’s a battle town officials never saw coming. A 1920 Howitzer donated to the town by the National Guard in Rehoboth–placed on the newly-built Veterans Memorial near the Seekonk Library.
"It is a memorial, and it stands for the men who fought in those wars, and those are the weapons they used," said Betty Berg of Seekonk.
"I think overall it’s been a positive reaction. I think we have several residents who have voiced concerns about the locating of the cannon here. Their major concern is the destructive nature of the cannon is what they’re perceiving the symbolism to be," said Seekonk Town Administrator Shawn Cadime.
In the two weeks since the Howitzer went on display, the Veterans Memorial Park Committee has received complaints, and dealt with what police are calling a vandal–someone who plastered a peace-sign sticker over the barrel of the gun.
"What more can you ask than to turn around and try to have a little respect for the veterans, and this is more or less what this gun represents, having a little respect for the veterans," said the committee’s vice-chair Robert Defontes.
The memorial is on town-owned land, but that land is maintained by the library’s board of trustees. The library director tells me the board was never consulted about the addition to the memorial.
"It looks a little out of place. It doesn’t tie in with everything that’s here," said Christine Watkins of Seekonk.
But for Bob Berg of Seekonk, who was a gunner on a Howitzer when he was in the National Guard, it’s a symbol of sacrifice.
"Every time I go by it, I see it, it brings back memories," said Berg. "It’s our history and it affects so many people, of course it’s important."
We reached out to the chair and vice-chair of the library’s board of trustees, but have yet to hear back.
The placement of the Howitzer will be up for discussion at Seekonk’s board of selectmen meeting Wednesday at 7:00 PM
Copyright WLNE-TV / ABC6 2017
