Although the Rockville library’s official name has been Rockville Memorial Library since November of 2009, a plaque with the “new” name was just unveiled and is on display in the first-floor library next to a digital display honoring county residents killed in action dating back to World War I.
The name change was requested by Gold Star families, who lost loved ones in military conflicts.
The plaque says, “To honor County residents Killed in Action in service to our Country in military conflicts since our County’s founding in 1776, the Rockville Library was renamed the Rockville Memorial Library at the request of Global War on Terror Gold Star family members and the Montgomery County Commission on Veterans Affairs.”
“The renaming of the Rockville Memorial Library in memory of County residents killed in military service to their country was a great honor for Montgomery County Public Libraries,” said Montgomery County Public Libraries Director Anita Vassallo in a news release. “We are proud of the digital display highlighting each resident and their service. The addition of the commemorative plaque completes the installation, and we encourage County residents to visit the Rockville Memorial Library to learn more about our fallen heroes.”
Wayne Miller, a Vietnam veteran and chair of the Commission on Veterans Affairs, said the plaque will let people know why the library has the word memorial in it.
“Sometimes, people enter a building with a name on it and never think about how that name occurred. This wording on the plaque is a powerful tribute to those who lost their lives protecting the freedom this country knows today, and we are grateful to the Gold Star Families who have worked with us on this tribute to our County’s Fallen Heroes.”
The library originally was called Rockville Library. On Nov. 10, 2009, former Executive Ike Leggett signed a proclamation renaming the library to honor “those who have given their lives defending the principles of freedom during every major military conflict and will be deserving of the highest gratitude and honor by the people of Montgomery County.”
A ceremony was held on May 20, 2010 to rename the building.
