World War II Roll of Honor, Wooden Sign formerly in Acton Center
During World War II, Acton citizens contributed to the creation of a roll of honor in front of Acton Town Hall, listing the names of Acton men and women in the service. Its first incarnation was dedicated on November 8, 1942 and had 134 names. Churches, the American Legion, State Guard Reserves, other Acton organizations, and the "Scrapper's Club" helped to defray the cost. A second round of fundraising, including sending volunteers door-to-door, took place in 1943. The Honor Roll Committee in that year consisted of Selectman Frank Braman, Don W. Benere, and James H. Connolly. At the second dedication on November 28, 1943, the Honor Roll had 222 names.
The structure was wooden, and the attached name plates were protected by glass panels. Other names were added later; a February 1945 article in the Beacon (the local newspaper) noted that there were 293 names on it at that point, six with gold stars. By October, 1945, the name plates already were showing wear; Herbert Leuscher, Herbert Morris and Don Benere, members of the Edwards-Quimby Post of the American Legion, replaced them all.
Weather and time led to deterioration of the wooden structure, and a storm finally took it down. For a while in the early 1960s, the memorial stood without its names; eventually it was removed.
The Historical Society has a program from the 1943 Dedication Ceremony, from which the names of the honored Acton servicemen and women have been transcribed. Note that this list is known to be incomplete, as the dedication happened in 1943:
The structure was wooden, and the attached name plates were protected by glass panels. Other names were added later; a February 1945 article in the Beacon (the local newspaper) noted that there were 293 names on it at that point, six with gold stars. By October, 1945, the name plates already were showing wear; Herbert Leuscher, Herbert Morris and Don Benere, members of the Edwards-Quimby Post of the American Legion, replaced them all.
Weather and time led to deterioration of the wooden structure, and a storm finally took it down. For a while in the early 1960s, the memorial stood without its names; eventually it was removed.
The Historical Society has a program from the 1943 Dedication Ceremony, from which the names of the honored Acton servicemen and women have been transcribed. Note that this list is known to be incomplete, as the dedication happened in 1943:
Using additional sources, including records available at Jenks library and in local newspapers, we are attempting to approximate the roll of honor as it existed at the end of the war:
The Historical Society has a series of pictures of the Honor Roll and its dedication in November, 1942. [AHS Collection 91_51 - 91_56]
The Historical Society has a series of pictures of the Honor Roll and its dedication in November, 1942. [AHS Collection 91_51 - 91_56]
For more information on the Roll of Honor, see:
"293 Names on Acton Honor Roll," Acton Beacon, February 2, 1945, page 3.
"Acton Honor Roll Program November 11," Acton Concord Enterprise, October 7, 1943, page 3.
"Acton Legion Head Writes Servicemen From This Town," Acton Concord Enterprise, February 18, 1942, page 6.
"Acton's Eleven Forgotten Heroes" and "In Memoriam," Assabet Valley Beacon, May 27, 1965, page 2.
"Dedication of Honor Roll and Armistice Observance", Program, November 8, 1942 (AHS Collection, 90.314)
"Dedicate Honor Roll at Acton," Unsourced clipping from Nov. 1942 (AHS Collection, 90.314)
"Dedicate New Honor Roll," Lowell Sun, November 29, 1943, page 7.
"It's Still Causing Conversation," Beacon, August 16, 1962.
"Legion Notes," Acton Beacon, October 9, 1945, page 1.
"Roll of Honor Dedicated," Undated, Unsourced Newspaper Clipping in Percy Wood Scrapbook, Acton Historical Society.
Scrapbook of Herbert L. Leusher, Commander, Edwards Quimby Post, American Legion (AHS Collection, 90.314)
"293 Names on Acton Honor Roll," Acton Beacon, February 2, 1945, page 3.
"Acton Honor Roll Program November 11," Acton Concord Enterprise, October 7, 1943, page 3.
"Acton Legion Head Writes Servicemen From This Town," Acton Concord Enterprise, February 18, 1942, page 6.
"Acton's Eleven Forgotten Heroes" and "In Memoriam," Assabet Valley Beacon, May 27, 1965, page 2.
"Dedication of Honor Roll and Armistice Observance", Program, November 8, 1942 (AHS Collection, 90.314)
"Dedicate Honor Roll at Acton," Unsourced clipping from Nov. 1942 (AHS Collection, 90.314)
"Dedicate New Honor Roll," Lowell Sun, November 29, 1943, page 7.
"It's Still Causing Conversation," Beacon, August 16, 1962.
"Legion Notes," Acton Beacon, October 9, 1945, page 1.
"Roll of Honor Dedicated," Undated, Unsourced Newspaper Clipping in Percy Wood Scrapbook, Acton Historical Society.
Scrapbook of Herbert L. Leusher, Commander, Edwards Quimby Post, American Legion (AHS Collection, 90.314)