Vandals destroy vet’s bench

#MiddleburyCT #Navy #WillsBench

Vandals destroyed Will’s bench, shown on the left. The bench as it appeared before the destruction is on the right, and the memorial plaque is shown center bottom. (Submitted photos)

By MARJORIE NEEDHAM

For 15 years, the wooden bench with the plaque that reads, “In loving memory of William J. Keys, 4/22/88 – 4/16/11, U.S. Navy Corpsman, Honor, Courage, Commitment” stood overlooking Will Keys’ favorite place – Middlebury’s Lake Elise. The second weekend in April, just days before both his birthday and the 15th anniversary of his death, that bench was destroyed. Vandals kicked out the slats on its back, tore it off its foundation and used the slats to build a fire beside what remained of the bench. The plaque remained as a testament to the love friends, family and the community feel towards William, better known as Will.

Middlebury Police Sgt. Guerrera is investigating the vandalism. Anyone who may have witnessed this crime or has information about it is encouraged to contact the Middlebury Police at 203-577-4028.

Shortly after learning of the bench’s destruction, Will’s friend Julianne Rowland started a Go Fund Me campaign to raise money for a replacement bench made of stone. Just as they had done for the first bench, people quickly responded with donations, reaching the goal of $2,000 and continuing to $5,000, when the campaign was closed. The additional funds will be used to support the installation, maintenance, and landscaping of Will’s Bench. Any additional donations will go toward causes that were meaningful to William and the Keys family.

Will’s mother, Lisa Keys, said on April 27 that she has ordered a beautiful granite bench with an arched back where Will’s memorial plaque will be embedded. “It will be there for eternity,” she said. The bench is being created by a Newtown, Connecticut, company and will probably be installed on its concrete platform in early June. Lisa said, “I want to thank Alice Hallaran, Carol Walsh, Julianne Rowland and all who donated to make this happen.”

Funds for the original bench were raised by Walsh, a close family friend and the mother of Will’s best friend since childhood, Tyler. Donations poured in from across the community. Lisa Keys said at the time that the bench was beautiful and, “It’s just so touching that the town would support us in that way. It was made possible by donations from all kinds of people – people that we don’t know.” She said of Lake Elise, “It’s just a peaceful place to be – a place my son really loved. You can kind of feel his presence there.”

The location was chosen because Will loved to fish at Lake Elise. His family has a picture of him at age 3 holding the first fish he ever caught there.

When the vandalism was discovered, Walsh said, “We’d like to catch who did this. It’s just so disrespectful.”

Lisa said Will was well loved by many people. She didn’t want to focus on the vandalism. “It just is nicer to dwell on how well loved he was by so many people,” she said.

People often visited his bench. Lisa said some would leave flowers on it. Others would sit there, looking out over the lake and reflecting on life. Every Christmas, someone would leave a wreath there.

Will died quite unexpectedly. He had safely returned in October 2010 from a tour in Afghanistan six months before he was killed in an April 16, 2011, traffic accident in Hampstead, N.C. Since he was 5, he had wanted to become a Navy Seal, and he worked hard to acquire the necessary skills. The night he died, he had just completed training to become part of a Scout Sniper Platoon.