Photos
The ribbon-cutting is performed by Dan Hayes, Lee Teicholz, John Kwiatkowski, Lt. Col. Michael Zacchea, and Mayor Mark Boughton, marking the official Purple Heart parking spots at the War Memorial in Danbury.
Danbury's Mayor Mark Boughton and State Commander John A. Kwiatkowski hold up their plaques of dedication for those who have earned the Purple Heart.
Danbury Police Department joins the ceremony to celebrate Danbury as the newest Purple Heart City.
Danbury Police Department color guard.
Danbury residents, along with State Rep. Dan Carter, attend the ceremony on Sunday morning.
Deacon Richard P. Kovacs from St. Gregory The Great Roman Catholic Church shares a few words in celebration of the event.
Deacon Richard P. Kovacs sprinkles Holy Water throughout the newest Purple Heart spots at the War Memorial in downtown Danbury.
The Pledge of Alegiance is led by Steven Johnston.
Danbury celebrates its designation as a Purple Heart City.
Taps is performed by Ken Post, from Danbury Council of Veterans.
Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton speaks at the ceremony at the War Memorial.
State Commander John A. Kwiatkowski makes a few remarks during the ceremony.
Ret. Lt. Col. Michael Zacchea also gives a few remarks during the ceremony about the importance of the Purple Heart.
Event organizer Lee M. Teichoz talks about the Purple Heart and how his father earned one.
One of the two designated purple parking spots.
Some of the men posing in front of the newly painted purple parking spot.
(Photos Courtesy of Nicole Kasseris)
History
On
December 6, 1935, voters rejected a
proposal to turn the Danbury airport
into an athletic park. The vote was
sparked by complaints of noise generated
by the airport. However, the vote
focused community attention on the
shortage of playgrounds and parks in the
city. The local Lions Club pushed the
previously rejected idea of the City
accepting a donation of 20 acres of
swampy land at the intersection of Main
Street and South Street from Cephas
Rogers. Rogers was a local industrialist
who was hard hit by the Depression. The
donation would be made for forgiveness
of his $6,000 tax debt. The Common
Council accepted the offer, and applied
to the Works Progress Administration for
funds to drain the land and build access
roads and athletic facilities. Two
hundred workers began work in 1937. The
project was finished in mid-1940 at a
cost of about $175,000, $30,000 of which
the City paid. Cephas B. Rogers Park
opened in the spring of 1941.
Over the years, the City acquired
additional acreage to increase the size
of the park.
The Danbury War Memorial was built in
1951 and was designed and built in honor
of the men and women who fought in World
War I and II. Just after World War II
ended, every morning, students at
Danbury High School put their pennies
and nickels in a pot to fund a memorial
to honor those who so recently served
their country.
Information
Contact Info
City of Danbury Veterans Affairs
23 Memorial Dr
Danbury, CT 06810
Email: Lee Teicholz
info@combatwoundedparkingspaces.org
or use our
Contact Us form.
Directions
From New York
Interstate 84 - Exit 5
Straight through stop sign to traffic
light
At light take right onto Main Street
Follow to end
Last light on Main Street straight into
Rogers Park
War Memorial is the first building on
left
From Hartford/New Haven
Interstate 84 - Exit 5
Take right at light onto Main Street
Follow to end
Last light on Main Street straight into
Rogers Park
War Memorial is the first building on
left