RANDOLPH -- The Randolph Veterans Memorial Committee reached its goal, and construction will begin on the town's new war memorial next month.

Shirley Hanley, committee secretary/treasurer, said the group received large contributions from Goggins IGA. The Goggins sent nine family members to serve in World War II.

Hanley said Randolph will be "mighty proud of this monument."

Her husband Peter Hanley, a town selectman who heads up the group, said the committee raised $20,000, the last $3,000 since July.

Committee members, all of whom were born during the Depression, include the Hanleys, Bill Shea, Arthur Benner and Paul Curran. Everett "Red" Mansir passed away after the group was formed. Mansir's wife, Pauly, has taken his place.

The committee has met about a half-dozen times to work on the project.

"We're going to meet (this) week and set the stakes -- where we want the digging to start -- then come out to the farm and finish the meeting around our table," Peter Hanley said. "I don't think my wife is going to make them an apple pie, she did last time we met, but I don't know."

The existing monument, originally located on Water Street, has been moved to the Town Office on Kinderhook Street until the replacement monument is ready.

Peter Hanley said work will begin on the foundation in September and that the committee already has placed a $5,100 down payment on the black-marble memorial from Collette Monuments of Sabattus.

Shea said the panel tried to get all the names of Randolph residents who served in the military on the memorial.

During World War II, he said, Randolph, with less than 1,900 people, sent 225 of its men to serve their country, seven of whom were killed.

The names of veterans will be placed on both sides of the monument, which is 10 feet by 8 inches long and 5 feet by 8 inches tall.

"We have to build the forms and foundations and got two or three other things we have to do, but for the most part, everything is pretty well lined up," Peter Hanley said. "The most important part is that we got the money."

Hanley said the committee will unveil the new memorial on Nov. 11 -- Veterans Day.

Mechele Cooper -- 623-3811,

Ext. 408

mcooper@centralmaine.com