danbury war monuments

On June 25, 1950, Communist North Korean armed forces crossed the 38th parallel and invaded South Korea in a full scale war of aggression, determined to place the entire Korean peninsula under their control. Three years later a cost of more than 41,000 dead, missing in action or accounted for U.S. troops, an armistice was signed, establishing the boundary line between North and South Korea at the 38th Parallel, the point of the initial invasion. [Read More]

In 1957, Communist-led guerrillas began a campaign of sabotage and assassinations in South Vietnam. American aide to South Vietnam increased through July 1965, when the first U.S. troops were sent into battle in what would be our country's longest war engagement in history. At the peak of conflict in the late 60's early 70's, 500,000 Americans, mostly 18 to 22 years old were involved in a fierce jungle war with the tenacious Vietcong (Vietnamese Communists) whose guerrilla tactics of sabotage and torture became notorious. Complete withdrawal of U.S. troops commenced in March 1973, only after more than 46,000 Americans and 250,000 Vietnamese lost their lives in a fight for freedom. [Read More]

This memorial commemorates Danbury's Lee R. Hartell, who was killed in battle in 1951 during the Korean War. For his bravery and courage, First Lieutenant Hartell was posthumously awarded The Congressional Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military recognition. He was the first and only Danbury Veteran to receive this prestigious award in the post-Civil War era. [Read More]

Hickok, a Danbury native, was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Civil War for capturing a Confederate battle flag.

In 1861, Hickok, 22, volunteered to serve in the Union Army. He was assigned as a sharpshooter to Company A in the 8th Connecticut Infantry. In June of 1864, Hickok was transferred to a new unit composed entirely of sharpshooters, who fought with new Sharp rifles that allowed them to fire repeatedly far more often than soldiers with muzzle-loading muskets. [Read More]

In 1965, Danbury Attorney Martin Rader was nominated as a delegate to the third Constitutional Convention in the state's history. Such conventions are held infrequently and have the potential power to change the constitution by which the state operates.

During the convention, Rader was presented with a seedling from Connecticut's original Charter Oak, the states most historic tree. Upon returning to Danbury, Rader presented the seedling to the Danbury Garden Club who nurtured it through the winter and planted the four foot sapling in the Spring of 1966. [Read More]

The Historical Milestone was originally placed in 1787 by Major William Taylor in front of his house which stood on the War Memorial grounds. In an attempt to recoup his fortune lost to battle in the Revolutionary War, Major Taylor converted his home into an Inn primarily for people traveling between New York and Hartford. This was a trip that could take three days at that time. [Read More]

Built in 2012 to commemorate the men and women who have served in the American military, the Veterans Walkway of Honor is an elegant pathway that can be found at the Danbury War Memorial.

The walkway is lined with bricks that display the names, ranks, and service branches of American veterans; photos and short biographies of some of the veterans can be found on the walkway's website. [Read More]

The Merchant Marine monument is meant to initiate a greater public understanding of those who delivered materials across every ocean during the most difficult and dangerous of times.

The Merchant Marine lost a higher percentage of its members than any branch of military service during World War II. Merchant Mariners were responsible for providing supplies to the troops during the war including everything from tanks and ammunition to food and medical supplies. [Read More]

Near the War Memorial entrance are five plaques honoring those who served in the major wars since World War I. Starting at the visitor’s left, the first plaque bears the dedication “In honor of the men and women of Danbury who served in World War II 1941-1945 The memory of these departed heroes always lives,” and lists the names of 103 residents lost in the war. [Read More]

Iraq Afghanistan Veterans War Memorial

In 2021, the last U.S. troops withdrew from Afghanistan, marking the end of a 20-year war that took thousands of American lives.

This is the first Afghanistan Iraq Veterans War Memorial in Connecticut dedicated on May 18th, 2024 in honor of the service and sacrifice of all Afghanistan and Iraq War Veterans. [Read More]