Honoring NH fallen heroes: Hampton to add new name to GWOT monument

HAMPTON — The Hamptons American Legion Post 35 will host its annual Global War on Terrorism Monument ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 11.

The 6 p.m. event will be held at the American Legion Post 35, located at 69 High Street.

The monument, the first of its kind in New Hampshire, bears the names of all service members from the state who have lost their lives in the Global War on Terrorism since Sept. 11, 2001. The idea for the monument originated after two local service members, Army Second Lt. Matthew Coutu and Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Daniel Healy , were killed in action in June 2005. Inspired by a visit to the Vietnam War Memorial, Post 35 Past Commander Ralph Fatello proposed creating a monument to honor all New Hampshire service members lost since 2001. The monument was dedicated in 2006, and the Post has held annual ceremonies to honor these service members and their Gold Star families.

This year, the name of Staff Sergeant Tanner Grone, United States Army, of Gorham, will be added to the monument.

Grone, 25, was one of five aviation special operations forces killed when their helicopter crashed in the eastern Mediterranean Sea on Nov. 10, 2023, during a training exercise.

Grone enlisted in the Army in 2017 and deployed multiple times to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, as well as Afghanistan.

What to know about 9/11 ceremony in Hampton

Colonel Charles Nicol, United States Marine Corps, a Hampton resident and commanding officer of the 1st Marine Corps District, will be the guest speaker. Nicol has completed two combat tours in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Governor Chris Sununu and Senator Maggie Hassan have been invited to attend. Pastor Tim Lewis of the New England Shores Baptist Church in Hampton will offer the invocation, and Sarah Hill of Hampton will sing the national anthem. The Seacoast Marine Corps League will provide the firing detail, while the Hampton Fire Department, Hampton Police Department, Winnacunnet High School MCJROTC, and Boy Scout Troop 177 will provide color guards.

The public is invited to attend. Food and refreshments will be served following the ceremony at American Legion Post 35.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Honoring NH fallen heroes: Hampton to add new name to GWOT monument