AGAWAM — The Agawam Veterans’ Service Office has completed its mission to fund a fifth monument for veterans who have served since the Vietnam War. Now underway is a campaign to identify the names of veterans, coined “No Name Left Behind.”
Agawam Veterans’ Service Officer Christopher Lanski explained that the $49,000 marble monument will include a brass plaque inscribed with veteran names. The monument was funded by donations, including a large one from an anonymous donor, a Massachusetts State Historical Records Advisory Board grant, the West Springfield Fish/Game Club and the Westfield Marine Corps League. Lanski expects about 500 names to be included. So far, he has identified about 340 veterans through research.
To be eligible, veterans from any branch of the armed services must have served after May 8, 1975, and been honorably discharged on or before Dec. 31, 2025, and they must have lived in Agawam at some point during their service. Rather than only include the names of people who were in the military during the Global War on Terror, the monument will record the names of service members since the end of the Vietnam War.
“We wanted to include everyone that served and not have a gap,” Lanski said. “It’s really an honor roll.”
To add the name of a veteran, they or family members of those who have died should submit an application, a copy of service records and proof of the campaign, conflict or operation.
Lanski said it is important to get the word out about the campaign to identify veterans. “We want everyone to have to opportunity to be honored for their service,” he said. In addition to social media, posters in town-owned buildings, a legal notice and other methods, Lanski is hoping to create a robust word of mouth campaign. He said he wants people to say to their friends who have moved away, “Hey Jim, when you lived in Agawam in 1980, didn’t you serve?” He said, “Please reach out to anyone you know. Even if they did pass away, we want to see if they’re eligible.”
The deadline to collect names is May 31. For more information about the campaign, call 413-726-9783 or visit agawam.ma.us/296/veterans-services.
