Putnam patriot., 1925-11-13
THE NEW BRIDGE-A SYMBOL

November he will always be a day of poignant memories those who w emem Der fl as day odd strange silence when ceased 10 fire and quiet followed the steady bombardmen of four and one half years To others will great cities gone mad with eous joy bands and hoarse mobs cheering and sing ing There who will remember only for the joy of hose spared There those who only recall 1t end of the sacrifice which they had given their best and beloved
 These emotions were emotions of a and tired out world Up the State of Connecticut there typical oubur of joy when the bells rang out on that gray November morning 19ls There too those who wep the of those who would not return when ehe boys marching home There those who had out from Putnam who in the Argonne at ot Mihe and beyond Chateau Ther knew that strange moment when the guns ceased to fire.
 Then cycle the around and there came an November th Men and women who had served came back homes put their uniforms and insignia oi service began the difficult task of rebuilding peaeetme life sadly awry by the demands of patriotism and And this readjustment its difficulties did not fai alone upon ta CeVlee man and the eHserVee woman le he civilian in a s of life there came the problems oi postwar striving for n to nofmacy The war could not forgotten but t emotions Of service had been removed and life became an eelg Of fact day day fight for that peace and prosperity that memory of the days prior 10 1914.
 Here and there land spraHg ded dead of he and to those who had served There such memorial Putnam We had been one of communities who had suffered more severe economic loss than had o neghbors That unnatural prosperity which war brings to manufacturing community had ended abruptly the coming of peace Hard times the bagabo9 of the trained factory vare laid heavy hands large
  problem of he present Gommemoraton oi service m the laid aside for the future
 There were those who said the city negleeul of s sons and daughters in the l9l7ls, but the spirit of operation any memorial worthwhile was lacking the dedrams of the summer of 1921 Putnam anere blow and d1susonment bear than all the days of sacrifices It's most beloved and honored clzen guardian srdes and most relied upon instl- the chief figure national tragedy The First Bank closed doors and the savings of generations of hard labor and honest work disappeared in the melee of loss shat followed
 differences and religious preferences the city long division interests which had deprived of civic cohesion which expresses itself mutual interest and enthusiasm for municipal progress There those who the but who cannot deny that prior to the tragic of l924 the city house mildly divided
 Necessity, however performs strange miracles In this ease the performed that of the uncaon of all of the elements of the city the moment of it's greatest need In the days followed old naonaes forgotten in the bring prosperity and back the little city that place of pride and affection in the hearts of all the dwees therein There Catholic no Protestant no Jew the body of and who from the very day the First National Bank closed it's doors began the work upbudng the embes of the past and progress sye Putnam Disaster had united the city single well kn' together. active and energetic community.
 Eventually this spirit have its expression and that expression found itself spenddy m the exercises ot NoYempef l925 day long be remembered in the history of Put the many elements which the observance of the day brought into wel-marked signdeaton.
 These ohservanees cenered about bridge symbol as we'll as addition of practical beauty to the c physical features In the months that preceded the day itself committees of citizens representative of every element o population worked with this spirit of cooperation o day and observance the perfect thing that proved No detail small enough not to warrant tho most careful To honor the city part in the war the of Connecticut that this was no dead and d ing community became the duty and the daily worl of the v leaders a walks of fc. To the work everyone lent hand Recognizing the fine spirit behind the movemen the State accepted nvahon to come to Put his staff Other state officers wao knew our problems and our difficulties gave their help and their interest to th redmarked November lth But most important Of all every element the cty diversified population lent willing and enthusiastic hand the and detailed abors ot festH of remembrance orgetfulness that to mark milestone in the city's history
 Sos The Patriot that the bridge down by the Falls is distinctly symbol first of all symbol of service for far country