New North End School Named for Medal of Honor Recipient Col. Harvey C. Barnum Jr.
On Friday, May 30th, representatives from O&G Industries joined members of the Cheshire Board of Education, Town Council, local dignitaries, and community members for a meaningful dedication ceremony at the site of the new north end elementary school. The event marked the official naming of the school: Col. Harvey C. Barnum Jr. School, in honor of one of Cheshire’s most esteemed residents and a true American hero.
Colonel Harvey C. “Barney” Barnum Jr., a Medal of Honor recipient and retired U.S. Marine Corps officer, is the only Cheshire native to receive the nation’s highest military decoration. He was recognized in 1965 for extraordinary heroism during the Vietnam War, where he took command under fire and led his unit to safety. His legacy has continued to grow, with a U.S. Navy destroyer named in his honor and, now, this new school bearing his name.
During the ceremony, Col. Barnum spoke to the crowd with a mix of gratitude, humility, and humor. “This school will shape lives,” he said. “And if my name helps inspire just one child to be a good citizen, then this honor means even more.”
Following the event, George Givens, O&G’s Superintendent on the project, had the rare honor of meeting Col. Barnum one-on-one. In a moment both heartfelt and humorous, Barnum handed George a commemorative challenge coin bearing the Medal of Honor insignia (pictured below) and “issued orders” to finish the building on time—a directive George has proudly accepted.
FUN FACT! Did you know that the odds of meeting one of our nation’s 60 living Medal of Honor Recipients is approximately 1 in 5.57 million people? That is an astonishing 0.000018% chance of encountering a true American hero in everyday life. You have a better chance of getting stuck by lightning (1 in 1.2 million)!
The Col. Harvey C. Barnum Jr. School is a $90 million project—the largest capital investment in Cheshire’s history. Built on a 44-acre site at Jarvis Street and Marion Road, the school will accommodate 700 students from Pre-K through 6th grade. The design incorporates a rustic, barn-inspired exterior in homage to the site’s agricultural past, and includes five classrooms per grade, dedicated art and music rooms, a two-story library, a gymnasium for community use, an amphitheater courtyard, and four age-appropriate play areas.
As construction manager, O&G is proud to help bring this extraordinary project to life. The school is slated for completion in 2026—on schedule, as per Colonel’s orders.
Watch the FOX 61 Coverage here.
