The Halifax Board of Selectmen gave preliminary approval Sept. 23 to a proposal from the Halifax Veterans of Foreign Wars to create a Veterans Memorial Garden surrounding the town hall patio, marking what organizers say would be the town’s first dedicated veterans memorial space. The multi-phase project would be entirely funded and maintained by the VFW at no cost to the town.
Dave Walsh, representing the Halifax VFW, presented plans for the memorial garden during the meeting, describing it as “step one of four steps” in creating a comprehensive veterans memorial at the town hall grounds. The initial phase calls for a six-to-seven-foot garden buffer zone surrounding the main patio, featuring two small ornamental trees such as weeping cherry or Japanese maple, with a maximum growth height of 10 to 15 feet.
“I think we’re one of the few towns that doesn’t have a Veterans Memorial of some sort, and I think that would be a very apt name for it,” Walsh told the board. He emphasized that the project would be “absolutely no cost to the town whatsoever” and would be maintained by VFW volunteers and a local landscaping contractor as backup.
The proposal comes on the heels of the successful installation of a memorial bench earlier this month. Walsh reported that the granite bench, weighing approximately 650 pounds and measuring four feet long by two feet wide, arrived on Sept. 12 and was installed with assistance from the town’s Department of Public Works. The bench, provided by Swenson Granite of Hanover and custom-chiseled in Vermont, is scheduled to be dedicated on Veterans Day, Nov. 11.
Board Chair Jonathan Selig expressed support for the concept but requested to see formal plans before giving final approval. “I think it’s a great idea. I just had two quick questions. Number one, do we have any sort of rough sketch or plan of what it will look like?” Selig asked. He also raised concerns about long-term maintenance, citing past experiences with Eagle Scout projects that lacked sustained upkeep after completion.
Walsh assured the board that the VFW had commitments from multiple volunteers, specifically naming Kathy Garland and her husband, who had volunteered to handle ongoing maintenance. Additionally, the VFW has arranged for Naja Nessralla to serve as both the project lead for construction and as a backup for maintenance if volunteer efforts fall short.
Selectman Thomas Pratt raised an additional concern about insurance coverage for the work. “Do we have proper insurance for Naja?” Pratt asked, noting that the board needed to verify that the contractor and the VFW would have appropriate liability coverage before work begins. Walsh acknowledged he had not yet addressed the insurance question, and the board agreed to table final approval until those details could be confirmed.
Walsh outlined an ambitious long-term vision for the memorial space that extends well beyond the initial garden installation. Phase two would involve lining the walkways with perennials. Phase three would add granite mementos for each military service branch facing Hemlock Lane. The final phase would incorporate memorial bricks honoring deceased veterans, purchased and installed by family members. Walsh emphasized that each phase would require separate board approval before proceeding.
The board discussed the possibility of hosting a ceremonial groundbreaking on Veterans Day if formal plans and insurance documentation cannot be finalized in time for actual construction before November 11. “We could do a groundbreaking. I don’t know if it would be too late in November. I don’t think the ground’s going to be frozen yet,” Selig said, suggesting the ceremony could mark the official launch of the project even if physical work would need to wait until spring.
Walsh selected the Nessralla family’s landscaping business to handle the construction, citing their contributions to the town. “We figured since it’s a Halifax project, we would use a Halifax site. We selected the Nessralla’s. They have done so much for the town,” Walsh explained. Former Selectman Naja Nessralla, who would head the project, has already expressed enthusiasm about participating in the memorial garden’s creation.
The board instructed Walsh to return to a future meeting with formal sketches or plans showing the proposed layout and footprint of the garden, along with documentation of insurance coverage. Assuming those requirements are met, the board indicated strong support for moving forward with the project.
“I think in theory, we’re all on board, obviously. It’s a great thing. Continuation of an excellent project,” Pratt said. Selig agreed, telling Walsh, “It’d be an honor to do it, Dave. Thank you for all your efforts.”
The discussion reflected the board’s effort to balance enthusiasm for honoring local veterans with due diligence on practical matters of insurance liability and long-term maintenance responsibilities. The Veterans Memorial Garden would be coordinated with Veterans Agent Steve Littlefield, though Walsh noted that Littlefield is currently deployed with the Army.
Dave Walsh will return to the Board of Selectmen with formal sketches of the proposed Veterans Memorial Garden layout and documentation of insurance coverage for the construction work. Once those materials are reviewed and approved, the VFW can proceed with the first phase of the memorial project. The board and VFW are exploring options for a ceremonial groundbreaking on Veterans Day, November 11, 2025, with potential completion in spring 2026 if construction cannot begin before winter. Future phases of the memorial project will require separate board approvals as they are developed.