Stonington ― A ribbon cutting ceremony for a walkway and memorial archway honoring late police department Capt. Jerry Desmond, who spent many years helping coach the high school's gymnastics and football teams, will be held Sept. 18.

Desmond, a Stonington native, worked for the police department for 34 years, 17 as captain, before retiring in 2014. He then worked for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection as its boating safety representative. He also continued as a reserve police officer until his death last December, at age 63.

Desmond spent decades coaching sports teams at the high school, including more than 40 years as an assistant volunteer coach to the football team, and almost 40 years with the high school's gymnastics team.

Lifelong friend and teacher Dane Lewis said, “I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that if you were a student at any Stonington school, you got to know Jerry-- whether it was elementary school as the DARE officer, or the youth officer as they used to call it, or at the high school with coaching-- he was really a fixture in town.”

The idea of a memorial arch and walkway was developed in January, and with the support of the Board of Education and school administrators, Lewis and a group of Desmond’s friends began fundraising in February.

In total, they raised $18,000 for “Desmond Way,” and the accompanying steel archway, which stands 17 feet tall and 25 feet wide, spanning a walkway between the school and football field that fans and students use to get to the field.

Through financial contributions from individuals, and donations of labor and materials from local businesses, some owned by students Desmond coached, the idea went from concept to reality in nine months. The words “Desmond Way” atop the steel archway are framed by a bear, the school’s mascot, on either side. A plaque about Desmond is also affixed to the archway below a raised bear paw.

Lewis said he felt the location for the arch was fitting.

“When 2,000 or 3,000 people show up for the Westerly-Stonington Thanksgiving Day Game, they have to walk under this,” he said.

The ribbon cutting is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the high school.