EPVMER2021

EP Veterans' Memorial Expressway
60th Anniversary Re-dedication held in 2021

GOAL: To remember our veterans and service members so their sacrifices and efforts are not forgotten

HOW:

- Collects and shares info on this website

- Maintains EP Military Service Honor Roll - names of E. P. residents who served and are serving our country

- Requested the replacement of missing EPVME bridge memorial plaques. RIDOT installed the plaques in 2021.

- Established the Andrews' Brothers Memorial on Broadway westbound exit ramp in 2017; dedicated on Nov. 7, 2021

- Organized and hosted the EPVMER2021 double re-dedication ceremony on Nov. 6, 2021

- Created visuals: photo display at EP City Hall, on-line stay at home ceremony and tributes, 2 videos of the live Nov. 6 ceremony, notecards with biographical details

- Locates and shares veteran related historical (history, people, memorials, organizations, etc.) documents

- Researched and published an educational reference book about the lives of EP war veterans with individual war memorials in March 2023

- Submission of names to the virtual EP Military Honor Roll and purchase of the notecards with a bridge memorial plaque photo and biographical info about our EPVME veterans are now available via email.

- Biographical information about the veterans was placed, with flowers, on their bridge memorial plaque in March 2024.

The laminated cards (photos below) did not survive the weather. So more permanent signage is planned. Suggestions are welcome.

The website format has changed! Use tabs at the top of the page on computers or box with horizontal lines on phones.

The EPVME Military Service Honor Roll is now located on the second tab labelled "EPVME- EP Military Service Honor Roll".

Scroll below for tributes and presentations that have not been moved, still remain posted in their original location.

View the new tab page with Dec. 2024-2025 photos of the removal of the impaired west bound lanes of the Washington Bridge that was built in the 1960s.

* * * * * *

Special Veterans' and Military Members' Celebration

EP Veterans Memorial Expressway (EPVME)

Double Re-dedication ceremony

for the naming (in 1961) of this EP portion of the I-195 freeway for our EP veterans

and rededication of the new signs for the bridge memorials along this freeway

was held on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021

formal ceremony, antique car parade, meet and salute our service members

* * * * * *

On-site Dedication of the Andrews Brothers Memorial Exit

was held on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021

Broadway, across from Freeborn Ave.

followed by a drop-in visitation of the memorial bridge plaques

from Valley St. to Broadway only

* * * * * *

VISUAL PRESENTATIONS

"Tributes to our E. Providence Veterans"

with names on the original EP Military Service Honor Roll

9 separate videos

The audience may

- wave their USA, RI, and EP flags,

- ring their bells (hand bells, jingle bells, cow bells, empty dry plastic soda/ water bottle filled with jingle bells or beans, old buttons, coins, etc. ), and

- sing along during this tribute.

*** **

This work is copyrighted by S. Cady 2021.

The cover photos were created by the computer program, not the video creator.

(What is in a cell phone view may differ from this Google controlled program view.)

These "Tributes to our E. Providence Veterans" are posted as several individual short viewings.

In Google, click on the "arrow in a circle" on the screen to begin.

(On a phone, this "arrow in a circle" may not exist. )

Warning: Type size and screen size may be different when viewed on a pc versus a phone.

The links in these videos referring to the EP Historical Society have changed. The info may now be found under "Archives", then under "Gazettes" or "Memories".

The email address epvme @ hotmail . com is still valid.

In the tributes, the veteran's name is located under the first war event he/she participated in. Since created in 2021, several names listed in the "In honor of" category now appear "in memory of" on the updated EP Military Service Honor Roll.

1. Set up: Internet, computer screen, sound check <2 minutes

Cady-AV-setup.mp4

2. Ring the bell! (Audience may ring their bells 7 times.) 4 minutes

Raise the flag! with music Tribute statement

Contains views of the Expressway from Washington Bridge to the East Providence, RI - Seekonk, MA state line
(Photos were taken in or before 2021)
Arthur Lusignan memorial flag pole (private site)

Cady-EP-WWII-Tribute.mp4

3a. WWII Honor Roll names A-L 4+ minutes

The background music is provided by the Martin Middle School Wildcat Concert Band

" Freedon's Light Overature" composed by James Swearingen

Between the scrolls of names are views of the war memorials found in E. Prov.:
the Great War, World War I, plaque formerly at EP City Hall before the Jan. 1976 fire, then rescued and now is displayed in Ancient Little Neck Cemetery, Riverside

Legion Square, Six Corners, above the Broadway underpass

the WWII Honor Roll board, beside Town Hall, dedicated May 15,1944
What became of this memorial? Where is the list of 3377+ names that were written on the memorial?

Memorial Gates to the 2125 EP High School students who served in WWII, Pierce Memorial Stadium, Fifth St. and Mercer St. 2 plaques, the right plaque lists the 76 students who were KIA during WWII

East Providence Veterans Memorial Parkway, plaque at Mercer St., across from the Fort Hill stone

WWII Monument. Riverside Square, on bicycle path Where was this memorial located before it was moved to this location? When was it moved?

Four Wars Memorial, City Hall Plaza, Taunton Ave. and Purchase St., dedicated Nov. 15, 1987

military branch seals as flag holders, Linn Health and Rehabilitation Center, in garden on Alexander Ave.

Cady-WW2HR-A-L-May14.mp4

3b. WWII Honor Roll names L-Z 4+ minutes

The background music is provided by the Martin Middle School Wildcat Concert Band

"Summon the Heros" composed by John Williams

Between the scrolls of names are views of the war memorials found in churches and buildings in E. Prov.:

Newman Congregational Church honor roll

Rock E. Prov. Senior Center, Waterman Ave. with flags of each military branch

Linn Health and Rehabilitation Center, in garden on Alexander Ave., military branch seals as flag holders

Newman Congregational Church Honor Roll European War

Newman Congregational Church Service Roll

Haven United Methodist Church

Riverside Congregational Church

Goldsmith Manor, lobby

CadyWW2HR-L-Z-names.mp4

4. Tribute to E. Prov. Korean War era Veterans 6+ minutes

Music: Manhatten Beach

Between the scrolls of names are aerial views of the memorial bridges and spans along the EPVME, I-195.

Each bridge location is highlighted in color, then the span name appears (and fades) on the screen.

You may need to change the screen size often.

KoreanWarEPHonorRoll-SCady101821.wmv

5. Tribute to E. Prov. Vietnam War era Veterans 7+ minutes
The computer has randomly selected this cover photo. Sorry it is not what the author has selected. After 3 hours of trying, the computer wins!

Music: Colonel Bogey

Between the scrolls of names are views of the War Memorials at City Plaza.

Civil War soldier standing on a boulder

4 Wars Memorial, dedicated Nov. 15, 1987

"anatomy lesson"

size of the 4 sections, war crest

Korean War: 9 names (On video, it is incorrectly stated as 13 on the slide.)

WWI: 28 names

WWII: 133 names (3 columns of names + 1 name at bottom centered)

Vietnam War: 13 names

Total of 183 names listed plus other names that were not listed

These names are included in the EP Military Service Honor Roll.

photo of the memorial footing and text

VietnamWarEra-EPHR-SCady101821.wmv

6. Tribute to E. Prov. Veterans and military members of other, recent, and present events 5+ minutes
Cover view was selected by computer, not by the author. New version 2 uploaded Sat. 10-23-21

Music: National Emblem

Between the scrolls of names are views promoting East Providence

Welcome to East Providence sign, Taunton Ave., near Washington Bridge

Flag of East Providence

City of E. Prov. seal with 3 geese

EP High School class letters, crimson and white

Kent Heights water tower

OtherRecentPresentHR-Cady102321v2.wmv

7. Stars and Stripes Salute to our veterans and military members 2 minutes

by three EP Scout troops

Music: My Country 'Tis of Thee -- Sing along!

Ring the bell! (Audience may ring their bells 7 times.)

Bell from A. P. Hoyt School, formerly located at Freeborn Ave. and Lyon Ave. This Albert Pierce Hoyt Grammar School was 1 of 3 schools destroyed (in 1957-1959) to construct I-195, EPVME.

Cady-Scouts-salute-bell.mp4

8. Retire the flag with "Taps" music <2 minutes

Ring the bell! (Audience may ring their bells 7 times.)
This ends all of the EP War Tributes with a 21 bell chime salute!

Cady-lower-flag-bell.mp4

9. Credits for the WWII (May 2021) Tribute and thanks to many 4 minutes

Cady-credits.mp4

the "Stay at Home" EPVMER 2021 ceremony - 7 separate videos

SCady-PledgetoFlag.wmv

1. Pledge of Allegiance no music <2 minutes

Scouts with flagsEPVMER-2video.wmv

2. Scouts "Tribute to Our Veterans", with "God Bless America" by Dale Magnuson, soloist, 2+ minutes

SCadyVeteranswithEPVMEmemorials.wmv

3. The veterans for whom the EPVME bridges were named Music "Recognition, Honored dead" 9+ minutes

b5SCadynewEPVMEsignswithflowers-music.wmv

4. Photos of veterans and flowers on bridge memorial signs Nov. 7th

Music "Esprit de Corps" <5 minutes

SCady-Flags-on-PierceGates-MarineBand.wmv

5. "National Anthem" with USA flags on Pierce Memorial Stadium gates <2 minutes

SCady-Youllneverwalkalone2021.wmv

6. "You'll Never Walk Alone" by Dale Magnuson, soloist 2+ minutes

SCady-Taps-byDouglasWood.wmv

7. EPVMER finale: "Taps" by Douglas Wood 1 minute

Optional ways to view these presentations if you do not have internet access

You can use a public library computer to view these files on-line anytime the library is open.
A limited number of discs were burned and shared with people who do not have the internet.

a. The disc will work on a Windows PC (XP and above) that has a DVD player and video software, without the PC being on the internet.

current supply status: Still have many PC discs to share. Three PC CDs are available at Weaver Memorial Library.

b. The DVD disc will play on a portable DVD player and TV DVD player and a computer that plays a DVD disc.

current supply status: Sorry. There are no more DVDs to distribute until software becomes available to burn more DVD discs.

Request to loan a PC disc or a DVD from the Weaver Memorial Library.

***** ******* ******

Two maps are below for EPVME bridge memorial plaque locations and a suggested tour route.

The Lusignan-Leighton Memorial Bridge and plaques are not on this tour route map. They are located on Wampanoag Trail.

The purple tour through Watchemoket Square is no longer valid. Valley Street has been closed to traffic. Waterfront Drive is used to drive under the Washington Bridge.

Thank you for visiting this website to remember our veterans and military service members and civilian supporters

and their efforts to improve our world.

*****

Interesting reads: Visit a library to read back issues.

Readers' Digest Sept. 2015, p. 124-129 "A man, A mirror, A cure" meandmymirror.org
Removing phantom pain amputees feel with a reflection in a mirror

Readers' Digest May 2023, p. 62-69 "Private Hathaway comes home"
book at Weaver Library: Stephen G. Rabe "The lost Paratroopers of Normandy: a story of resistance, courage, and solidarity in a French village"

*****

MilTax is a tax preparation program,

https://www.militaryonesource.mil/financial-legal/taxes/miltax-military-tax-services/

sponsored by the Dept. of Defense offering free tax preparation or software

to members of the military, regardless of income level.

*****

God bless everyone.

Safe travel wishes!

*****

Life is full of changes.

Be flexible and accept them.

Bloopers and wise words encountered during planning this EPVMER event:

Ship almost sank when it hit a land mine.

U. S. A. Is that US Army or United States of America?

He is discussed - as translated by the dictation device. He is deceased.

He was in Vietnam. Is that served in the Vietnam War or in the country of Vietnam?

Veteran’s draft card stated height 6’ 8 3/4” , Weight 161 pounds

Transfer of info into Ancestry states : Height: 69", Weight 171 pounds

Computers are wonderful. They keep me wondering.

Perfection can only be found in the dictionary.

Plan the work, now work the plan.

US Navy Seabee Memorial at the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery in VA preserves a WWII motto :

The difficult we do immediately, the impossible takes a little longer."

4286 views Dec. 23, 2024

4375 views March 6, 2025

Last updated March 6, 2025

EP Veterans' Memorial Expressway 60th Anniversary Re-dedication held in 2021

EP Veterans' Memorial Expressway
60th Anniversary Re-dedication held in 2021