By Dominic Konareski
Voice Writer
“All gave some, some gave all” is a saying that symbolizes the sacrifices that our armed service men and women have given to their country. For some it was the ultimate sacrifice.
When it comes to West Haven, no veteran is forgotten or left behind. The city and its residents make sure of that. A new project at the city’s Vietnam Memorial at Bradley Point is a testament to that attitude.
On the way to West Haven’s boardwalk, you will likely pass a camouflaged building across from the West Haven train station. The West Haven Veterans Museum & Learning Center on 30 Hood Terrace, is the largest veteran’s museum in the state and, overall, one of the largest in the country at 9,000-square-feet.
Just down the road, located on the east side of the West Haven beach you have Bradley Point, and its memorial bricks that are dedicated to veterans. The West Haven Veterans Walk of Honor dates to 2006 and is updated annually in May, to honor the service of local veterans in part of what is a 100-yard walkway. According to the West Haven Vietnam Veterans website, there have been approximately 3,000 bricks laid so far, with 72 most recently added in 2025.
Roughly 500-feet away from the walkway stands the West Haven Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which pays homage to West Haven Vietnam veterans. The panels are dedicated to service men and women during 1959-1975, with approximately 280 names displayed.
You can now add 32 new names to that honorable list, as the memorial is in its final steps of being expanded. A $96,000 expansion, funded by American Rescue Plan Act money, is the work of the ARPA Commission, and its chairman Ken Carney.
The New Haven-based consulting firm of Westcott & Mapes was given the job of designing the expansion as well as Milestone Construction Services, also out of New Haven, for securing the stone, which was selected to match the current design.
The expansion includes new lighting, misspelled names fixed, and two more granite stones, which will display those 32 new names when unveiled.
Bill Benson, who is a Vietnam Veteran and the President of the chapter that originally oversaw the monument’s creation, said that it makes him feel good to see the new names added on. Benson also stated that those names “should’ve been recognized a long time ago,” and that he is pleased to see them get added.
Steve Carney, who has been one of the overseers of the expansion project and is a veteran himself said it’s a matter of merit and accuracy.
“They deserve to have their name on there,” when asked how he felt as a veteran being part of a project of this level. Carney also stated how a dedication ceremony is being planned once the granite, which is in its final engraving process, is laid, he said.
Ken Carney, meanwhile, thanked those who were involved in the expansion project, saying the project not only corrects some errors and deficiencies, but continues the honor the city pays toward veterans.
“West Haven is very conscious of the debt it owes veterans, both those who fought, and those who served in peacetime. This expansion is a way to set the record straight and give the recognition due all those who served during the Vietnam era,” he said.
As far as the logistics of it, Carney was thankful to the two firms that did the work.
“My thanks go to Westcott & Mapes’ Raymond G. Paier, the vice-president of engineering, and Milestone’s Frank Ferraiolo. Both answered their phones when we had questions and worked to make this project the success it is,” he said.
Overall, the project moved relatively fast with the original planning beginning just over two years ago. The dedication of the restored monument is expected by month’s end.
Meanwhile, Chairman Carney pointed out the ARPA funding was the most recent use of the federal funds by the city, which is trying to keep residents aware of how and where the allocations are made through the 2021 federal act.