Monuments to the town's war dead are located throughout Wilton, but soon they might all be in a centralized veterans' memorial.
Plans are under way to create a Veterans Memorial Green at the corner of Center Street and Old Ridgefield Road. The green would consist of six granite monuments inscribed with the names of the town residents killed in action, a plaza and a flagpole.
"We've got a piece of land in Wilton Center that's perfect for it," said Don Klotz, a committee member and a Navy Air Corps veteran who served in World War II and the Korean War.
The town is contributing the land and site preparation, but the memorial committee needs to raise $65,000 in private contributions to complete the project. The committee is looking to businesses and organizations as well as individual contributors.
"We've gotten a lot of enthusiasm even the schoolkids are getting into it," Klotz said. "We have a way to go, but we're very optimistic."
First selectman Bill Brennan, who was a captain in the Air Force, is the committee chairman. He and Klotz announced the plan this week.
"With Memorial Day coming, it's a good time to get started on it," Klotz said, "and we're hoping to get it done by Veterans Day and dedicate it then."
But even though the official announcement came this week, plans have been in the works for a few years, Klotz said. Among the work already completed is researching the names of Wilton residents who have been lost in battle. Klotz said the number is 86 dating back to the French and Indian War.
And if the memorial project goes as hoped, the names of all of them will soon be preserved in one place.
People wishing to contribute can send checks payable to the Town of Wilton and sent to the Town of Wilton Veterans Memorial Green, 238 Danbury Road, Wilton CT 06897. Credit-card payments may be made by accessing the towns website: www.wiltonct.org and clicking on the Veterans Memorial Green link. Donations are tax deductible.
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