By Michael P. Walsh
Special to the Voice
West Haven Vietnam Veterans Inc. has announced that the organization is accepting applications to add Vietnam veterans’ names to the city’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Bradley Point Park.
For the first time since its dedication in 2003, the memorial’s black granite “wall” was expanded last fall with a pair of adjoining sections featuring 35 new names.
The absolute black granite panels, a project initiated in June 2023, were paid for by American Rescue Plan Act funds and dedicated on Veterans Day 2025.
Now, nearly three years later, the West Haven Vietnam Memorial Inc. Committee has launched a second phase to recognize additional current and former city residents who served in-country during the Vietnam War by inscribing their names on the two panels.
There is currently space for only 10 additional names; therefore, the memorial committee will approve the applications in the order they are received.
To qualify for name recognition on the memorial wall, Vietnam veterans must apply and meet the following requirements:
— Applicants must live or have lived in West Haven. Veterans living in West Haven must provide proof of residence, such as a utility bill.
— Applicants must have served in-country during the Vietnam War.
— Applicants must have been honorably discharged from military service. A DD214 form is required.
The memorial committee does not have a formal application. Veterans must mail all documents, which are due April 10, to West Haven Vietnam Veterans Inc., 355 Main St., lower level, West Haven, CT 06516.
For questions, call Steve Carney at 475-655-2993.
The memorial wall features the names of those from West Haven who served or gave their lives in Vietnam from 1959 to 1975, along with three white flagpoles draped with the American, Connecticut and prisoner-of-war flags.
The memorial also includes a black granite map of the four battle districts of Vietnam bearing the inscription “All Gave Some, Some Gave All,” as well as five bronze insignia markers atop black granite posts representing each branch of the U.S. armed forces.
For information on West Haven Vietnam Veterans, visit https://westhavenvietnamveterans.org/.