Committee approves naming eight city squares and Gold Star Families Plaza

The Veterans Affairs Committee voted to approve a mayoral proposal to name eight city squares for Marlborough service members and to designate the plaza behind City Hall as Gold Star Families Plaza.

The committee considered order number 25-109385, a communication from Mayor Jay Christian Dumas enclosing locations and short biographies for eight veterans. The letter also recommended naming the plaza behind City Hall (140 Main Street) as Gold Star Families Plaza. The mayor’s packet cited city ordinance section 5551-1 as the authority for making such namings.

Michael Hennessy, the city’s veterans agent, and Matt Sargent, representing the Veterans Council, described the selection process. Sargent said the veterans council used an updated master list of Marlborough service members who died in service and prioritized locations where photographs and biographical materials were available for display. He also noted the list spans from early conflicts through 2020 and includes veterans from immigrant communities.

Councilors on the committee praised the effort and discussed practical matters — where signs and monuments will be located, funding, and installation. Committee members confirmed funding exists in the current budget for city square upgrades and that signs may be produced by an outside vendor; Department of Public Works will coordinate placement. Several members expressed support for the Gold Star Families Plaza as a citywide recognition of families who lost service members.

The motion to approve the nine namings as proposed passed, recorded as 3–0. The committee asked for a suspension on Monday to move the matter forward so signage and printing could proceed before Memorial Day.