Various memorials are dedicated to veterans who have fought or lost their lives on account of a particular war, but few have been able to cultivate connection beyond these honored people and events like the ones at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Manchester, New Hampshire. The landmarks located across the park have provided it with a powerful identity that is no longer connected to a single conflict. Doing so has made it a destination that is able to attract both residents and visitors for different reasons.
The First Downtown Park in Manchester
Veteran’s Memorial Park was the first downtown park ever created in Manchester, with thousands of people attending the opening of it in 1879. While the central monument and park itself were created to honor veterans from the Civil War, other landmarks would end up residing in Veteran’s Memorial Park. They include the Webster School Bell which was placed in the park by the Manchester Bicentennial Committee in 1976.
The monument in the center of the park is oldest and largest, honoring veterans from the Civil War. A more modern monument with granite blocks dedicated to World War I, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and World War II is set off to the side of it, both of which now define the park on multiple levels. However, they are not the only memorials that it features.
The Sheehan Phinny Bass & Green PA Walk contains markers dedicated to individual veterans. Additionally, a Ring of Honor is dedicated to POW’s and MIA’s while various benches scattered throughout the park have been dedicated to numerous veterans. There’s also a World War II monument that features markers and benches with the names of those from Manchester who have served their nation.
All of these monuments and memorials are spread across the open green space of the park, leaving plenty of room for activities of all types. This combination has enabled the park to become a hub of activity.
Events, Activities and Engagement
The popularity and notoriety of Veteran’s Memorial Park compelled the installation of the Manchester Welcome Center, providing visitors with an easy way to begin or continue their exploration of the city. Featured in various maps of Manchester as one of the essential destinations, the park also has a large covered stage from spring into early fall where it hosts a variety of activities and events. Outdoor concerts and festivals, fairs, lectures, and film festivals take place in Veterans Memorial Park on a regular basis. That includes activities like the People Fest, the Downtown Film Fest, the YWCA’s Take Back the Night, the annual Adopt-A-Block fair, just to name a few.
In terns of revenue, there are fees associated with holding an event in Veterans Memorial Park, highlighting an important source of revenue. Additionally, individuals and organizations sponsored many of the monuments and memorials located through the park. Some of the markers call out this support, creating a powerful legacy for each.
By using monuments and memorials to define Veteran’s Memorial Park in such a distinct manner, both residents and visitors have been able to identify with the space in a way that encourages engagement. Doing so has allowed the park to become an important element of the Manchester community that will continue to cultivate attention from across the region and beyond.
Cultivating a Legacy
Creating a monument that honored the Civil War veterans defined Veteran’s Memorial Park in a very specific way, but that identity has been further cultivated with the installation of other memorials and genuine pieces of Manchester history. This has allowed the park and Manchester as a whole to see this legacy evolve in a way that’s as influential as it is appealing to audiences of all types.
