Framingham Firefighters Donate $4,000 To Veterans Memorial Park Renovations

[broadstreet zone=”59947″]

FRAMINGHAM – The Framingham firefighters donated $4,000 to the renovations of Framingham Veterans Memorial Park, located off Concord Street in Framingham.

Members of the Framingham Firefighters IAFF Local 1652 raised the money toward the park renovations.

“The Veterans Memorial was last updated in 1985,” said Lt. Robert Downing. “Since then, there has been a generation of Veterans who have defended this country and deserve the recognition on this memorial alongside those who served before them.”

Lt. Downing is working with a group of volunteers to update and beautify this memorial, along with Framingham Parks & Recreation Department and the Framingham Veterans Council.

The goal is to raise $250,000.

The second goal is to complete the restoration and add the “additional plaques to honor wars” after Vietnam by Veterans Day 2021.

[broadstreet zone=”53130″]

The upgrades to the Park will include cleaning the memorial by famed American Sculptor Emilius R. Ciampa erected in 1952 and associated plaques, add additional plaques to honor conflicts after Vietnam, install flag poles for each branch of the military, repair walkways and other surfaces to bring them into compliance with ADA requirements, and add signage and story boards to document the history of Framingham’s veterans.

The firefighters’ donation will go towards a bench in the park, said Lt. Downing.

Donors are still needed to sponsor the U.S. Coast Guard, Space Force, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Marine Corps flag poles at Framingham Veterans Memorial Park.

The cost is $5,000 for pole and dedication plaque, said Lt. Downing.

[broadstreet zone=”59945″]

Charlie Rousseau donated the funds for the American flag & pole. Nick & Pat Paganella donated $5,000 for the U.S. Army Flag and pole.

Thus far about $90,000 has been raised, said Lt. Downing. The public can help with the project.

There is a GoFundMe to make donations. Personalized bricks also can be purchased (6 by 9 inches with a message) at $150 each.