Written in Stone

“Dedicated to the men of Beacon who gave their lives in war that generations yet unborn might walk in the ways of peace and understanding with peoples of all nations." —From the inscription on the Beacon Memorial Hall's War Monument

The first monument in our city's history to be dedicated to all of Beacon's war dead was unveiled in front of Memorial Hall during the Memorial Day services of 1947. The new monument was donated by Beacon Post 203 of the American Legion with the expressed intention of replacing the long standing wooded Honor Roll (which also stood in front of the Hall) with painted-on names of the men and women of Beacon in service during World War II. County Supreme Court Justice J. Gordon Flannery (a Navy veteran of World War I) was master of ceremonies that memorial Day of 1947. Judge Flannery said this: "It seems only a short time ago that we assembled here to dedicate the Memorial building after a war which we thought marked the end of all wars. It didn't seem as though it could happen again. But it did. I hope God in his infinite wisdom will see that it doesn't happen again."

Judge Flannery's hope was a forlorn one ... Wars in Korea and Viet Nam were to take more young Beacon lives. Yet those monumental words written in stone are true and lasting.

One of the more poignant moments of past Memorial Day services is when the names of the war dead are read aloud, with a haunting ring of a solitary ping of a bell sounding out for each name. As the years have rolled by it becomes harder to associate faces and memories with those names. One name for me that is always a reminder of that great sacrifice and loss is Terry O'Neil. Terry was a year ahead of me at Beacon High School but we shared a gym class under coach Jim Gauriloff and had many laughs together trying to avoid the inane drills and games of gym. Terry was fun and bright and full of life. After high school he joined the Army and was deployed to Viet Nam in November of 1967. Sgt. O'Neil was killed in that war on May 23, 1968. He was awarded the Bronze Star and the Conspicuous Service Medal for his actions. Terry is one of scores of names etched onto another stone nearby to the 1947 War Monument. May we make the effort to see one name, see one life lost, see one Beacon hero, this Memorial Day. God bless you, Terry.

Photos: Judge Flannery dedicating the War Monument in 1947; Beacon Historical Society Cemetery Committee members Diane Murphy and Joanne Stanton cleaning the monument for Memorial Day, 2019; Sgt. Terry O' Neil.