LOCAL BOOKSHELF "New Hampshire War Monuments: The Stories Behind the Stones" By Kathleen Bailey Photography by Sheila Bailey

Memorial Day weekend is often spent gardening, visiting local parks, and attending parades. For many, it is a time to visit and reflect on local war memorials. If you have ever wondered about the numerous memorials that are a part of the landscape of New Hampshire towns, Kathleen Bailey's book, "New Hampshire War Monuments: The Stories Behind the Stones," is a comprehensive look at this piece of local history. &emsp;&emsp;Bailey's father, a WWII veteran, sparked Bailey's curiosity to discover "the stories behind the stones." Bailey writes about her childhood road trips around New England: "My father had a particular curiosity, and we frequently stopped to read the inscriptions on moss-covered plaques and granite columns ... I thought of my father when, after half a lifetime, I revisited the Buddies Monument in Jaffrey. The World War I monument is simple but stunning, a doughboy carrying his dead comrade off the field." &emsp;&emsp;The beauty of Bailey's book is that it goes beyond the stories on the surface. There is the story of the soldier, of course, but also the artist hired to create the memorial and why the style of the memorials changed over time. &emsp;&emsp;When writing about Civil War memorials known as "Single Soldiers," Bailey notes: "The memorials pay tribute to the men who served and to another fact of nineteenth-century life: the Industrial Revolution." Including the broader social history gives the memorials context within the history of New Hampshire. &emsp;&emsp;Bailey writes about how technology changed the way memorials were made and how they were affected by the outcomes of the war itself. How families want their loved ones remembered has evolved to include 5Ks, roads, swimming pools, and other public spaces. &emsp;&emsp;The book is arranged chronologically from the early wars, from The Revolution, The French and Indian War and the War of 1812, through Iraq and Afghanistan wars, with photographs by Sheila Bailey depicting the memorials honoring each conflict. The chapters give a brief overview of each war, with individual veterans from New Hampshire remembered. Following the narrative is an alphabetical listing of the towns with memorials honoring that war. &emsp;&emsp;For example, The Cathedral of the Pines in Rindge, with its stunning view of Mt. Monadnock, "is available and popular for weddings, and its Easter sunrise service draws worshippers from all around the country." The Altar of the Nations "is made up of stones from all 50 states, and others represent the homes of all United States presidents from Harry Truman to Barack Obama (Hawaii)." Stones from famous battle sites from all over the world are included in the altar. There is even "soil from Mount Zion in Jerusalem." It is a place of unity and remembrance, and it is fitting that Bailey devotes an entire chapter to telling its story. &emsp;&emsp;"New Hampshire War Monuments" is a tribute to the commitment of New Hampshire to remember and honor those we have lost. The book itself is a memorial that will ensure we never forget.