The Stories Behind Providence’s War Memorials

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Wednesday, August 03, 2011

Rachel Eides, GoLocalProv Contributor

Every day, Rhode Island pedestrians pass the most devastating representations of American sacrifice and pride without even knowing it.

On August 6, freelance writer, photographer and filmmaker Patti Cassidy will share her passion for war memorials on a tour of these very monuments, titled “The Secret Life of War Memorials.”

“Each time a war memorial is erected, those who raise it hope that future generations will remember their losses,” said Cassidy. “Each time, unless certain elements are included, they forget.”

The tour features WWI, WWII, and Korean War Memorials in Providence’s Memorial Park. Cassidy focuses on Providence’s important role in the construction of war memorials with a discussion of the Gorham Foundry and the granite industry in Westerly.

More than a city's "wallpaper"

“I find it tragic that memorials are so often part of the ‘wallpaper’ of our cities,” said Cassidy. “They are, for the most part, raised to commemorate the sacrifices of the nation, including the death of combatants, and the devastation they wreak on communities.”

Not only does Providence house important monuments, but artisans and artists in the city have played an even larger role, Cassidy said. “Providence, of course, has an important part in memorialization history in the United States,” she said, “through Gorham Company and artists/architects like Friederich St. Florian.”

The "aha" moment

“On walks like these, you can often hear people speaking to one another saying, ‘I walk by this every day and I had no idea what it was or what it meant,’” said Barbara Barnes, Tourism Services Manager at Rhode Island Historical Society and Manager of Personally Providence. “The best part of these walks is the ‘aha’ moment that occurs and the understanding that results.”

“War memorials are special examples of public art because they bring the community together in a unique way,” said Cassidy. “I love remembering the history behind these pieces and sharing that with others.”

The Secret Life of War Memorials, 10am-11:30am. $10/person. John Brown House Museum, 52 Power Street, Providence. Call 273-7507 x 62.