Orleans Veterans Panel Unanimously Backs Local Artist for Korean War Bronze Plate

ORLEANS — April 28, 2026 — Orleans Veterans Memorial Committee resolves months-long names dispute and commissions local artist for Korean War bronze plate. The committee voted unanimously at its April 28 meeting to engage Orleans artist Dan Joy to create original artwork for the Korean War Memorial bronze plate, rejecting reliance on a recently released copyrighted Chosin Reservoir photograph in favor of a piece members said would "immortalize" Joy's work permanently in Veterans Park. In a separate unanimous vote, the panel formally accepted a finalized list of names for both the Korean and Vietnam War monuments — whittled down from 35 unresolved entries to a settled roster after cross-referencing DD-214 discharge records with the Massachusetts military records archivist. Ten veterans confirmed by DD-214 as non-Orleans residents at the time of their service will be removed from monument consideration; the committee voted unanimously to honor them instead with laser-etched commemorative bricks placed in front of their respective theaters of war. The indigenous memorial, completed by stoneworker Tom Blute, is set for installation May 11, with a Wampanoag tribe unveiling ceremony planned for June 20.