The Town of Marion has officially been presented with an offer for the donation of the Benjamin D. Cushing VFW Post 2425 building at 465 Mill Road, and the offer will appear on the October 24 Special Fall Town Meeting warrant.
The VFW made the offer in a letter addressed to the Marion Board of Selectmen, which discussed the matter briefly Tuesday night during the September 6 meeting of the selectmen.
Town Administrator Paul Dawson said the members of VFW Post 2425, which has recently decided to disband due to a decline in membership over the past few years, voted in April to donate the building on Route 6 to the Town of Marion, with the specific hope that it be used as a senior center/community center, and that existing stone monuments and plaques dedicated to those who have served remain at the property.
“This is obviously an extremely generous offer on behalf of the … VFW Post 2425,” said Dawson.
Board of Selectmen Chairman Jody Dickerson said he could “go on and on for hours” about all the service and generosity the VFW has shown the town since it was first established decades ago.
“I think we owe it to the townspeople to bring it forward at this special town meeting,” Dickerson said.
Town Meeting voters will have to vote to accept the offer as an article on the warrant.
Selectman Stephen Cushing, whose great-uncle served in World War I and to whom the VFW building was dedicated, applauded the offer but lamented the disbanding of the VFW.
“It’s the end of an era,” said Cushing. “A lot of things are going through my head right now about this.”
Selectman Steve Gonsalves said it would be appropriate that the town keep the name of the building the same, continuing to honor Benjamin D. Cushing, who gave his life in the war.
The selectmen motioned to place the item on the special town meeting warrant and approved the motion. The Board of Selectmen will meet for a special meeting at 8:30 am on Friday, September 9, to close and approve the special town meeting warrant.
In other matters, the selectmen approved a three-year extension on an aquaculture permit for Catherine Brodeur.
The board declared several aluminum ladders belonging to the Fire Department as surplus property. The ladders will be cut and sold as scrap metal.
The board also briefly discussed a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) offer from Clean Energy Collective, developers of the solar farm located on Tucker Lane.
The PILOT agreement requires a town meeting vote and will appear as an article on the special town meeting warrant. Dawson stressed that it is not a reduction in the amount of taxes the company would pay, but simply a way of spreading out a more even and predictable amount each year for the life of the project.
The next scheduled regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen will be September 20 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Town House.
By Jean Perry
It is extremely disheartening to me that they are disbanding. Where are the local area veterans of Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan? Step up and take the reigns and continue the legacy of service within the Town of Marion and the surrounding communities. Their presence will be missed from the area ceremonies and parades. So, if it must be, a salute to all the men and women who were members. I’ll not forget your service. My memories as a child of the members giving so generously throughout the years will not be forgotten. I wish all good luck, God speed and Semper Fidelis.
Caleb C. Potter
Gunnery Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps (Retired)
Mattapoisett Born and Raised