Page 26 - Wallingford Magazine Issue 53 Early Spring 2025

EAGLE SCOUT
EAGLE SCOUT

PROJECT
PROJECT

Replaces & Updates Plaques in Harrison Park

Honoring Wallingford World War I Heroes Who Gave Their All

by Bob Beaumont
On February 7th, Eagle Scout candi- park, in 1913, Sarah B. Harrison, the
date Noah Cutler of Wallingford and widow of Dr. Benjamin Franklin Harri-
the Boys Scouts and Scouters of Troop son, a long-time local doctor, Civil War
45 in Southington installed new metal surgeon, and founding father of the
plaques on the red oak trees that were Wallingford Municipal Water Company,
planted and dedicated on May 30, 1919 gave the town seven acres at the corner
in honor of the Wallingford men who of North Main Street and Cedar Lane,
had fought and had given their all in the which were to be used in perpetuity as
so-called “Great War,” which some de- a park. Mrs. Harrison also provided a
clared to be the “War to End All Wars,” $1000 bond to provide for maintenance
or as we know it on this side of the At- of the park, part of which was used to
lantic, World War I. fund the new plaques.

As an Eagle candidate, Noah had to first Then, in the Spring of 1919, after World
get the approval to do the project from War I ended @ 1100 hours on Novem-
Kenny Michaels, the Director of the ber 11, 1918, the citizens of Wallingford
Wallingford Parks & Recreation Depart- planted 25 red oaks 8 feet tall and 4
ment, work with the Scouts of Troop 45 inches in diameter, and dedicated them
and the author to update the plaques, to Dr. Harrison and 22 of our boys who
locate a firm to make the plaques, and The genesis of the latest round of died in battling Germany and its allies.
then oversee the installation of the plaques came in the summer of 2022. A Britannia nameplate mounted on a
plaques by his fellow Scouts and Scout- Doug Quigley, the grandnephew of chain was put on each of the trees. Sub-
ers. Frank Hugh Quigley, Carpenter 2nd sequently, another two of those trees
Class, who died when the ship he was
were designated in the memory of two
As a point of information, on a national serving on, the Coast Guard cutter U.S.S. more Wallingford heroes. Over time, all
basis, less than 4% of the young people Tampa, was torpedoed by a German of those original markers disappeared.
who join Scouting America stay with the u-boat in Bristol Channel off Milford
program and become Eagles. Therefore, Haven, Wales, called the author asking Some of the most familiar names of
Noah is to be congratulated for staying if there were any plans to replace the those who are honored in the park are
the course to become an Eagle. Harrison Park plaques, because of their Corporal Stanley Shaw and Private First
condition. Oh, and, by the way, the in-
Class Thomas P. Sinon for whom Ameri-
Noah’s project is the third Eagle Project formation on Frank’s plaque needed to can Legion Post 73 is named, and Major
that has installed Plaques on the Har- be corrected. Gervais Raoul Lufbery, America’s first
rison Park trees, the first having been flying ace in World War I. Corp. Shaw, in
done in 1991, many of which needed to There were several Scouts who were Company K of the 102nd Regiment, was
be replaced since several had been in- made aware of the project, and who killed “going over the top,” (in a charge
appropriately taken off the trees. They the author had referred to Mr. Mi- from the American trenches), in the
were replaced in 2009 by an Eagle Proj- chaels. Fortunately, Noah, in need of a first great drive at Seichaprey on April
ect led by Eagle Scout Jeffrey J. McGov- project since his 18th birthday was fast 20, 1918, and is interred in France. PFC
ern of Troop 2 with plaques that looked approaching, accepted the idea of the Sinon also in Company K, was killed in
great initially, but had not weathered plaque replacement, and, to my mind, the 2nd Battle of the Marne near Baure-
well in the intervening 15 years, to the did an excellent job of managing the sches, and is also buried in France.
extent that they had become virtually project.
unreadable. To give the reader some history of the Major Lufbery is likely the most well
known throughout the world of the

26 Wallingford Magazine - Early Spring 2025