Salem Veterans: Difference between revisions

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to activate the vets information.
to activate the vets information.


A memorial honoring '''Benjam Peirce'''- Salem's only minuteman to be killed in the battles of Lexington and Concord '''Major Gen Stephen Abbot''' was placed at the east end of the Church St. parking lot on Patriots Day in 1976 by Historic Salem, Inc. It was rehabbed and expanded in 2024 by Colin Bowker as an Eagle Scout project.
A memorial honoring '''Benjam Peirce'''- Salem's only minuteman to be killed in the battles of Lexington and Concord '''Major Gen Stephen Abbot''' was placed at the east end of the Church St. parking lot on Patriots Day in 1976 by Historic Salem, Inc. It was rehabbed and expanded in 2024 by Colin Bowker as an Eagle Scout project. In 2026, the city of Salem planted an American hybrid elm behind the memorial. This tree will replace the original planted 50 years prior and is a reference to the original elm tree in Boston commemorating where the Sons of Liberty gathered.  


'''Blue Star Memorial''' on Hawthorne Boulevard Traffic Island was created in 2013. This plaque honors all Veterans who have served, are serving and will serve the United States of America. The Salem Garden Club proudly maintains the plantings at this site.
'''Blue Star Memorial''' on Hawthorne Boulevard Traffic Island was created in 2013. This plaque honors all Veterans who have served, are serving and will serve the United States of America. The Salem Garden Club proudly maintains the plantings at this site.


The Friends of the Greenlawn cemetery have produced tour booklets with valuable information on the '''Civil War''' veterans buried there. See Tour booklet June 2015 in Vertical File "Greenlawn Cemetery Tour"
The Friends of the Greenlawn cemetery have produced tour booklets with valuable information on the '''Civil War''' veterans buried there. See Tour booklet June 2015 in Vertical File "Greenlawn Cemetery Tour"
On Memorial Day 2026, the city dedicated two city squares to World War II heroes '''Sgt. Dean Ahearn''' (Killed April 9, 1945) and '''Sgt. William Anthony "Boley" Kielbasa''' (Killed December 30, 1944). Sgt. Ahearn was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantry Badge, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign meal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, and the Asiatic Pacific Campaign medal.
The city square honoring Sgt. Kielbasa was placed at the intersection of Harrod and Irving streets. Sgt. Kielbasa was assigned to engage and contain the Germans in the "Battle of the Bulge". Sgt. Kielbasa was posthumously awarded the Bronze star medal.


The links below have more information on these memorials.
The links below have more information on these memorials.
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*"New Salem veterans monument needs final fundraising push" ''Salem News'', April 26, 2024, A8
*"New Salem veterans monument needs final fundraising push" ''Salem News'', April 26, 2024, A8
*"City to plant new Liberty Tree in honor of fallen Salem militiaman" ''Salem Evening News'', May 19, 2026, p. A1
"Kielbasa also honored with square" ''Salem Evening News'', May 27, 2026, p. A14
"Remembering Salem veterans - City honors two who died in WWII" ''Salem Evening News'', May 26, 2026, p. A01

Latest revision as of 16:23, 17 June 2026

Salem has the honor of remembering many fine men and women who have served in the armed services for our country.

Many memorials in town have been erected to honor these brave people, as well as squares named for those who gave their lives for their country.

  • The memorial for the Civil War is the 23rd Regiment Boulder on Salem Common.

Conception Church, Ward Three World War I Memorial on Dalton Parkway and World War I Monument at the intersection of Jefferson and Lawrence Streets.

Mourning Victory on Lafayette Street is in honor of both World War I and II.

  • Salem State University has a plaque located inside the Ellison Campus Center of Salem State University. The plaque honors the

students of Salem State Teachers College who served during World War II.

  • St. Mary's cemetery in north Salem also has a memorial. The memorial honors the men and women who served our country both in wartime and in

peace.It is placed on top of a hill and is surrounded by veterans in their final resting place.

  • Sylvania World War II Memorial Monument is located outside of the Bertolon School of Business at Salem State University. The monument is dedicated to eight employees of the old Sylvania plant who lost their

lives in World War II. The Sylvania plant was once located on what is now the campus of Salem State. The monument was refurbished and rededicated in September of 2012.

In 2013, the city began work to rededicate veteran's squares around the city that have missing signs.

The city website has a map with veterans squares highlighted with stars, which also give veteran's individual information. Click on the i on the right sidebar

to activate the vets information.

A memorial honoring Benjam Peirce- Salem's only minuteman to be killed in the battles of Lexington and Concord Major Gen Stephen Abbot was placed at the east end of the Church St. parking lot on Patriots Day in 1976 by Historic Salem, Inc. It was rehabbed and expanded in 2024 by Colin Bowker as an Eagle Scout project. In 2026, the city of Salem planted an American hybrid elm behind the memorial. This tree will replace the original planted 50 years prior and is a reference to the original elm tree in Boston commemorating where the Sons of Liberty gathered.

Blue Star Memorial on Hawthorne Boulevard Traffic Island was created in 2013. This plaque honors all Veterans who have served, are serving and will serve the United States of America. The Salem Garden Club proudly maintains the plantings at this site.

The Friends of the Greenlawn cemetery have produced tour booklets with valuable information on the Civil War veterans buried there. See Tour booklet June 2015 in Vertical File "Greenlawn Cemetery Tour"

On Memorial Day 2026, the city dedicated two city squares to World War II heroes Sgt. Dean Ahearn (Killed April 9, 1945) and Sgt. William Anthony "Boley" Kielbasa (Killed December 30, 1944). Sgt. Ahearn was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantry Badge, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign meal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, and the Asiatic Pacific Campaign medal. The city square honoring Sgt. Kielbasa was placed at the intersection of Harrod and Irving streets. Sgt. Kielbasa was assigned to engage and contain the Germans in the "Battle of the Bulge". Sgt. Kielbasa was posthumously awarded the Bronze star medal.

The links below have more information on these memorials.

See Also

  • Vertical File in Salem Collection - Veterans
  • Vertical File in Salem Collection - Greenlawn Cemetery Tour June 2015 tour booklet
  • "Memorial Day 2013: A city remembers: Salem launches project to dedicate, replace veteran's signs" Salem News, May 27, 2013, p. 1
  • "New Salem veterans monument needs final fundraising push" Salem News, April 26, 2024, A8
  • "City to plant new Liberty Tree in honor of fallen Salem militiaman" Salem Evening News, May 19, 2026, p. A1

"Kielbasa also honored with square" Salem Evening News, May 27, 2026, p. A14

"Remembering Salem veterans - City honors two who died in WWII" Salem Evening News, May 26, 2026, p. A01