Dedication of the St Joan of Arc Monument
Sunday, June 4, 1944 - Aldenville (Chicopee) Massachusetts
UNVEIL MEMORIAL TO WAR HEROES
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A throng of more than 800 people assisted in dedicatory ceremonies at St. Rose de Lima parish Aldenville yesterday afternoon, as the memorial statue of the schools patron saint was unveiled by Mrs. Peter Briere of Felix Street, who has lost two sons in this war.
The monument erected by Marcel Normandeau of West Springfield, is 12 feet tall. The statue being of careza marble. The base on which will be inscribed the names of the men who lost their lives in World war 1 and World war 2 is of Barre granite.
In the colorful ceremonies, benediction of the blessed sacrament was followed by a procession in which the huge crowds took part. Members of the clergy and scores of altar boys in red cassocks filed out of the church to the site where the American flag was raised, and where the unveiling took place. Banners of the sacred heart, Joan of Arc, St. Anne and the immaculate conception added the final touch in the already reverent atmosphere.
When the blessing of the statue had taken place, officiated over by Rev. J.B. Lamothe, pastor, Rev. Gerard Lucier, and Rev. Ovila Gevry, a memorial wreath was laid by representatives of the various branches of the service. Veterans of World war 1 in the ceremony were Wilfred Fournier and Fred Guyette, while servicemen of World war 2 were Romuald Thabault, machinist’s mate in the navy air corps; Francois Robitaille of the army, now at Yale University; and R. Chagnon of the marines.
Taps were sounded by the boy scouts of Troop 138, and cub Scouts assisted in the color guard. The principal speakers included Mayor Edward O. Borbeau and Rev. Albert Beaudry, pastor at the Greylock parish, North Adams, who said his first mass at St. Rose deLima chuch years ago following his ordination.