What would otherwise be an empty neighborhood greenspace has instead been transformed into a landmark with the installation of the Vietnam Veteran Memorial in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Located in Mill Brook Park, the Haverhill Vietnam Veteran Memorial has enabled the small triangular park to become an attraction that is connected to the past and future of the city.
Honoring the Haverhill Residents Killed in the War
When a marker at the Basiliere bridge honoring the 13 Haverhill residents who were killed in the Vietnam War was vandalized, an effort find a suitable spot for a more developed memorial commenced. A small green space on Mill Street near the entrance to the Plug Pond Recreation Area was identified as the ideal spot for this new memorial. Known as Mill Brook Park, this space would be transformed in a way that resonated to the surrounding community and veterans from across the region and beyond.
The Vietnam Veteran Memorial in Mill Brook Park contains a circular concrete ring at the northern end of the walkway. It defines a “13 memorial” that honors and lists the 13 Haverhill men who were killed in the war. The 13-foot-tall granite obelisk on the other sides honors everyone from Haverhill who served in the war. Other markers displayed across the memorial highlight important facts and figures about the conflict.
Funded through a mix of state grants, private donations and services from the city’s Department of Public Works, the Haverhill Vietnam Veteran Memorial is set to define the area in the far future. A city counselor mentioned that they hope new generations of people will learn about the war and Haverhill’s losses with the landmark and through an app that will be created.
This connection to the past and present showcases what it can mean for a landmark to positively impact individuals and redefine a space in a way that resonates throughout a community on multiple levels.
Making a Space Special
Referenced at something that made the space special, the Haverhill Vietnam Veteran Memorial has transformed what was otherwise a bland triangular park into landmark that attracts visitors from all over. Doing so has enabled the space to become a hub of community activity in a way that would otherwise be impossible within an empty neighborhood green space.
