Monument movement on the New Castle Green

Written by New Castle Court House Museum Site Supervisor Juliette Wurm for The Weekly

Originally in print Wednesday, August 28, 2024

Two monuments on the New Castle Green will soon have a new home. One marker is in memory of those who died in the Vietnam War. The other is for Sergeant Edward A. Willing, a soldier who went missing in action, also during the Vietnam War.

The two monuments are in places where they are not easily seen by the public. The trees that were originally planted around them have grown to cover them from view. The war memorial is hidden in the roots of a copper beech tree in the center of the Green and the Willing memorial is hidden by the branches of a holly tree that was planted as part of the memorial.

The monuments will be placed in the grass next to the intersection of two walking paths closest to where the memorials currently are. They will be near the street lamp that illuminates the Green in the evening, which will also allow illumination of the memorials. The Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, who owns the Green, worked with the town of New Castle and the Battell and Read chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution to move the monuments. A re-dedication of the memorials will be held within the next few months.