WORCESTER, Mass. — In Worcester, the city's newest war memorial is causing some controversy.
The issue is not who the monument honors, but where it's located.
In Lincoln Square, Worcester's newest war monument is set up in one of the city's busiest intersections.
It is the Citizens of Color World War II Honor Roll, saluting Worcester's 145 African American residents who joined the fight.
And Thursday, the Honor Roll also serves a reminder of our segregated past.
"When there were marches to Union Station for all the soldiers to go to boot camp, to go off and fight in the war, they were not allowed, soldiers of color to march with white soldiers," said activist Bill Coleman.
But even though the honor roll was just unveiled, on Pearl Harbor Day, there is an effort underway to move it up the hill to the Laurel/Clayton neighborhood.
That's where the original Honor Roll was set up for years, but it was lost when Highway Route 290 was built right through the neighborhood. And now, some want it back.
"The people didn't have a voice before. They have a voice now. We need to really go back to the people and let them decide," said Worcester City Councilor At-Large, Khrystian King.
King says Route 290 permanently changed the neighborhood, but didn't destroy its heritage.
King says people there should have the last word.
"I would say the community exists. You can displace a community, but you can't take away a community," said King. "Revisiting this issue is the right thing to do. We want to make sure Worcester gets this right.
Coleman helped push the new Honor Roll forward and he believes the location ensures more people will see the monument every single day.
"This is a standalone perfect location and if they want to put other markers in other communities that once existed, that's great, too. We support all that. But it's telling the history, you drive by and you look at it. It's just beautiful," said Coleman.
There's no telling if the Honor Roll will stay, or if it will move, but it is certain, right now, the story of those Worcester African American vets is not being forgotten.
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