Hampton Global War on Terrorism monument: NH fallen to be honored on Sept. 11

Special to Seacoastonline
·2 min read

HAMPTON — The Hamptons American Legion Post 35 will hold its annual Global War on Terrorism Monument ceremony on Monday, Sept. 11.

The ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. at American Legion Post 35, 69 High Street in Hampton.

The monument, the first of its kind in New Hampshire, has the names engraved of all the service members from New Hampshire who have lost their lives in the Global War on Terrorism since Sept. 11, 2001.

The Hamptons American Legion Post 35 will hold its annual Global War on Terrorism Monument ceremony on Monday, Sept. 11.
The Hamptons American Legion Post 35 will hold its annual Global War on Terrorism Monument ceremony on Monday, Sept. 11.

The idea for the monument came about after two service members with local ties, Army Second Lt. Matthew Coutu and Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Daniel Healy, were killed in action in June 2005, one in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. Several Post members thought there should be a monument to honor them. After then-Post 35 Commander Ralph Fatello returned from a memorial service in Washington to visit the Vietnam War Memorial, he suggested that the post have its own monument to honor all those lost from New Hampshire since Sept. 11, 2001. Since the original dedication of the monument in 2006, American Legion Post 35 has continued to honor service members from the Granite State and their Gold Star Family members, each year on Sept. 11.

United States Navy retired Petty Officer Joseph "Joe" Kutt tolls the bell for each N.H. solder who gave their life in the Global War on Terrorism on Sept. 11, 2022, in Hampton.
United States Navy retired Petty Officer Joseph "Joe" Kutt tolls the bell for each N.H. solder who gave their life in the Global War on Terrorism on Sept. 11, 2022, in Hampton.

Fortunately, no new names will be added to the monument this year.

James Ball, formally of Cranston, Rhode Island, will be the guest speaker. Ball served in the Army as an infantry officer in the 82nd Airborne Division and served two combat tours in Iraq.

Gov. Chris Sununu and Sen. Maggie Hassan have been invited.

Pastor Tim Lewis of the New England Shores Baptist Church in Hampton will offer the Invocation, and Sarah Hill of Hampton will sing the national anthem.

The Seacoast Marine Corps League will provide the firing detail, and the Hampton Fire Department, Hampton Police Department, and Boy Scout Troop 177 will provide Color Guards.

The public is invited to attend. Food and refreshments will be served following the ceremony at the American Legion Post 35.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Hampton Global War on Terror monument: NH fallen to be honored 9/11