Posted May 26, 2024

DANBURY — This Memorial Day weekend, residents can honor veterans of the Afghanistan War and Iraq War  by visiting a newly installed monument in Rogers Park that honors their sacrifices.

After two years of fundraising and planning, the Connecticut Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans War Memorial Committee unveiled the new monument earlier this month in front of the Danbury War Memorial, according to the group's leader, Afghanistan War veteran David Vieira of New Milford.

“During the Afghan and Iraq wars you saw American flags waved everywhere,” Vieira said. “But with the end of war, interest has faded. We were motivated to do this for the veterans of those wars and their families who made sacrifices.”

The final cost to build the monument was $400,000, with the costs supported by donations and grants, including $230,000 from the state of Connecticut. 

After the parade, a Memorial Day ceremony will take place at the Rose Garden in Rogers Park.

Reporting from Dan Nowak contributed to this story.