Supporting Barre’s 9/11 Monument

By Ellenor Downer Editor edowner@turley.com
B A R R E GAZETTE, Barre, MA – D e n n i s Fleming is not new to remembering armed forces veterans in the town of Barre.

It is not surprising that he would serve on a committee to erect a 911 Monument on Barre’s North Common to those who lost their lives to eliminate worldwide terror. Previously, he was instrumental in naming several bridges in town after Barre veterans, who served in previous wars.

Fleming served as chairman of the 911 Memorial Committee along with members Paul Murphy, Robert Bentley, Charles Fullam, Anthony Musnicki, Michael Wood, Michael Leonard, William O’Donnell, Police Chief James Sabourin and Jason Benoit as design consultant.

Barre has two veterans, who served in the War on Terror: Gerard Spinney Jr. and Evan Proctor. Spinney Jr. received a Purple Heart for his service. Fleming referred to 911 “as my generation’s Pearl Harbor.” When word of erecting a monument spread, volunteers came forward. Jason Benoit, a civil engineer, volunteered to design the monument, which incooperated pieces of steel subway rails, which ran under the World Trade Center. Others stepped forward to join the committee and to offer help. People volunteering saved a lot of money., Fleming said. The committee also received many generous donations including the Barre Savings Charitable Foundation, Tunnels to Towers in New York, many local businesses and other donors. Kenneth Uracius, owner of Stone and Lime in Brookfield, donated a piece of granite.