| JUNE 7, 2011 -- It all started in 2008 — with a $1,000 donation and a plan to restore Naugatuck’s aging World War I monument.
Now, three years later, it is the final stretch in a mission to raise $40,000 to fix up the WWI monument, a towering memorial, fitted with a flagpole, and located just next to Salem School in downtown Naugatuck.
Ron Fischer, a local Vietnam veteran who has been raising money for the monument since the fund raising effort started in 2008, said he is selling 1,000 raffle tickets for $1 a piece to go toward the monument. This will make up the last $1,000 needed to fix the monument.
“I’m expecting this raffle will meet our goal,” Fischer said. “We’ve gone over the $39,000 mark.”
In 2008 Fischer obtained a $1,000 donation through the Beacon Valley Grange, which he is a part of, to go toward fixing up the damaged monument. Fischer said he got the idea after reading a newspaper article about the aging monument shortly after Memorial Day.
The estimated cost at the time, $40,000, is still the rough cost to do the repairs today, he told Naugatuck Patch.
“I am surprised,” he said. “I thought it would be costing more.”
The raffle is the last step, although Fischer said the Beacon Valley Grange will pick up the final cost of the $1,000 if he doesn’t succeed in selling all $1,000 raffle tickets. isn’t raised through the ticket sales. Since he started the raffle, Fischer said this week said he’s sold about half of the 1,000 tickets.
Those looking to purchase tickets can call Fischer at 203-729-2624. There will be a drawing at the Beacon Valley Grange on Friday, June 10.
The first-place prize is an original painting of the Soldiers Monument — valued at $600 — done by former borough resident Sandra Passeck Robinson, a descendent of one of Naugatuck’s WWI veterans. His name is even etched on the monument.
The next two prizes are, respectfully, a blanket with a patriotic theme print, a hand-knitted comforter in red, white and blue and a gift basket donated by the Wolcott Grange.
The American Legion Post 17, which also donated $1,000 to the restoration effort in 2008, is sponsoring the raffle, Fischer said. While admitting he hoped to have the monument restored in time for Memorial Day, Fischer said the restoration will likely begin in June.
“Barring any unforeseen problems, I am hoping it will be done before the Veteran’s Day ceremony,” he said.
Coinciding with the June 10 drawing date is also a celebration of the Beacon Valley Grange’s 122 anniversary, said Joanne Cipriano, grange president.
“It will be celebrating the both of us,” Cipriano said.
The Beacon Valley Grange is located at 1354 New Haven Road. Festivities for the drawing begin at 7:30 p.m. and the actual drawing will be at 8 p.m.
“It is fitting to finish our efforts in the place where it all began three years ago,” Fischer said. |
