Norton Gold Star Committee Moving Forward in Trent Memorial

 The Norton Gold Star Committee, formed to help honor Master Sgt. Gregory R. Trent, said last week that they are making progress in acquiring funding for a monument in Trent’s honor.

Trent's childhood friend Bill Novick told Norton selectmen that the process for funding the monument is progressing smoothly in the town and beyond.

“We’ve gotten a lot done in a short period of time,” he said. “We’re constantly reaching out to the community because we want this to be a community project.”

The project, which was brought to the board in October, is collecting funding for the project in a variety of means. Novick said that the Swirling Vine in Norton is currently selling bottles of wine for $22, with $9 of the sales going to the memorial.

“These bottles of wine from that vineyard retail at $25,” he said.  “It’s good wine and it is a good deal.”

Selectman Robert Kimball said he supports the project, and that the Swirling Vine is not making a profit from the memorial.

“[The Swirling Vine] is not making any money on this by the way he’s doing this as a community effort,” he said.

Novick said that more fundraising efforts are on the horizon. He said that Wheaton College has agreed to host an auction and raffle on March 16.

“We’ve gotten donations from everywhere,” he said. “From the Red Sox, The Patriots, the Duck Boats, the Swan Boats; people are really contributing. I just want to take a moment to recognize these people of all walks of life some from different towns not even from Norton.”

Novick said that Trent was his friend, and that his sacrifice will be honored, regardless of the recognition Novick himself receives.

“One hundred years from now no one will know that we were on this committee,” he said.