Mill Town Messenger | May 2010

Overview

The Mill Town Messenger issue commemorates Newport’s military heritage and community preservation efforts, featuring tributes to local servicemen, updates on covered-bridge restoration, and historical vignettes from World War II-era Argus Champion clippings. It emphasizes remembrance, civic pride, and active society involvement.

Key content includes memorial stories of Justin Rollins and Michael E. Brady, Pier and Wrights Bridge preservation funding and schedule, and archival profiles of Newport notables and wartime memories.

You can read the online version of the newsletter here.

This quarterly newsletter is generally published in January, April, July and October.

Main Points

• Newport Military Sacrifice: Newport residents have a long history of military service and sacrifice, with several losing their lives in conflicts from the Spanish-American War to Iraq.
• Specialist Justin A. Rollins: Justin Rollins, a Newport native and member of the 82nd Airborne Division, was killed by a roadside bomb in Samarra, Iraq, on March 5, 2007, and was later buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
• Army Specialist-4 Mike Brady: Mike Brady, from Newport, died in Vietnam on January 28, 1967, as a helicopter crew chief during Operation Cedar Falls; he received the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 12 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Bronze Star.
• Memorials: The Oak Street Bridge in Newport was rededicated in 2010 to honor Mike Brady, while the Elm Street Bridge serves as a memorial for Justin Rollins.
• World War II Service: Newport native Norman Gage served as a US Navy captain at Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack, and Pvt. William C. Huntoon was highly decorated for his service in Europe, receiving the Bronze Star and the French Croix de Guerre.
• Captain Ira Stowell: Ira Stowell commanded Company M, Third Regiment, NH National Guard during the Spanish-American War; he died of typhoid fever at Chickamauga Park, GA, on August 31, 1898.
• Community Support: The Newport Historical Society and local citizens actively preserve and honor the memory of their veterans through newsletters, memorials, and historical projects.
• Bridge Restoration: Significant fundraising and grants have enabled preservation work on Newport’s historic covered bridges, including the Pier and Wrights Railroad Covered Bridges.

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