By Sharon Landry
The crosses on the Memorial Caisson represent Shirley residents who were killed in action in WWI, WWII, the Korean and Vietnam wars.
At first, the crosses were stuck in the ground where the monuments are in Whitely Park by the DAV. When the WWI monument was moved from the diamond on Harvard & Lancaster Road to Whitely Park they couldn’t go there anymore so the Legion built the platform to mount the crosses.
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, this kind of caisson is a two-wheeled wagon or chest used to transport artillery ammunition near the battlefield. In modern times, these retired military wagons are most commonly seen in military funerals (such as those at Arlington National Cemetery) to carry a casket, followed by a riderless horse.
Rudy Kurtyka originally donated the Shirley Caisson, which came from the National Guard back in the 50s or 60s. Originally it was an ammunition carrier, the original doors and tubes are still there but you can’t see them because of the platform.
Joe Landry painted it black and built the dolly under the caisson to be able to move it around for Wilma Brown’s funeral in Harvard. Crosses were mounted after that. Joe remembers the caisson being used for Alfred “Beechie” Beach’s funeral and he thinks it was also used for Rudy Kurtyka’s funeral. Possibly others that he doesn’t remember.
About 20+ years ago John Guthrie and Joe put the current platform on with the green rug, which was donated by the McNiff family.
Joe instigated the recent refurbishment because when he visited other military cemeteries, he was ashamed of how ours looked. He originally offered to pay to have it done but the Legion paid for part and part was donated and done by a company with an office at Phoenix Park which Gerry Wheeler arranged. Gerry is also the one who usually moves it around and keeps it updated.
Visitors to Whitely Park can walk around all four sides of the caisson to see all the names of these young Shirley men who sacrificed themselves for their country.