HILLSDALE, N.J.—An estimated 250 people from the borough and surrounding towns turned out for the dedication ceremony for the newly constructed Hillsdale Veterans Memorial on Sunday, Nov. 3.
Plans for the memorial were two years in the making, with its centerpiece the 1922-dedicated WWI Hillsdale Honor Roll monument, surmounted by a golden eagle.
Five new granite monuments with brass plaques were added, honoring those who served in America’s early wars, including the War of Independence, the War of 1812, the Mexican–American War, the Civil War, the Spanish–American War; and World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
More recent struggles are gathered in the fifth memorial, for the fight for global freedom and the War on Terror: Operation Urgent Fury in Lebanon/Grenada, Operation Just Cause in Panama, the Gulf War: Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm in Kuwait/Iraq, and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Markers also list those from the area killed in action.
The existing flagpole with the American flag remains in place as the focus of the monuments. The existing WWI monument, along with the two K.I.A. (killed in action) monuments, were relocated.
Each new monument stands 8 feet high and 3 feet wide and weighs approximately 2,400 pounds. The new space covers approximately 2,160 square feet, including landscaping and a new concrete pathway in front, inviting exploration and reflection.
Half of the project’s $123,000 cost came from a Bergen County Open Space grant and half was raised in a General Leonard E. Wood American Legion Post 162 fund drive.
Collections are ongoing to reimburse the post for initial expenditures.
The post-led ceremony—marked by a color guard, words from Hillsdale United Methodist Church Pastor Brian Neville, and seasonal chill—was held in Veterans Park near the corner of Park Avenue and Broadway.
It concluded in the implacable report of a rifle salute.
The ceremony further recognized each branch of the United States armed forces, the speakers taking the time, before and after their remarks, to salute where their service markers stand for a major historical conflagration paid in American blood and treasure.
In his welcoming remarks, Mayor John Ruocco said it was an honor to participate in the dedication of the new memorial “to those who served and died defending our nation and the democratic principles that are embodied in our way of life.”
He quoted President Ronald Reagan: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.”
He also quoted President Abraham Lincoln:
“Months after the horrific battle of Gettysburg, he stood on the battlefield and said, ‘We cannot dedicate—we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract … And from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion,’” Ruocco said.
He turned the program over to former Hillsdale mayor and now Post 162 Commander Doug Frank, who said, “Our military history is our country’s history.”
Frank said, “Some conflicts may have been questionable but remember, the military just implements the policies of the civilian government.”
After recounting the bloody toll of America’s wars, he repeated, “It is those in Washington who declare wars or deploy the troops; the military just fights them.”
Frank said, “And they are good at it. In recent years, Washington has also used the military to help in disaster relief and nation building, and although it’s not the military’s primary role it has helped those in need by building schools, hospitals, and infrastructure around the world.”
He added, “It is no wonder that today the U.S. military is the most trusted institution in our country.”
Frank’s key note was that this is not a war memorial but rather a veterans memorial.
“We decided to start at the beginning with the American War of Independence. We live in New Jersey, which was the crossroads of the Revolution, with many battles and troop movements in our state,” he said.
“We then added the major wars of the 19th century under Early Wars. Our WWI monument, the centerpiece of the memorial, is untouched, just moved a little to allow the flow of the memorials,” he said.
He noted the eagle on top “has never flown higher.”
Planners included the U.S. Merchant Marine for its service during WWII and recognized all those who served during the Cold war, 1947–1990.
Information on those who gave the ultimate sacrifice and those who were wounded comes from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
‘We’re not glorifying war…’
In his closing remarks, Frank said, “These memorials are not here to glorify war or to justify the actions that have been taken by governments. That is why this is a veterans memorial, not a war memorial.”
He said, “These memorials are here to recognize not only the service and sacrifices that soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines have made, they also recognize the sacrifices of the families of these men and women. They have also served our country.”
He said, “We live in difficult times, fighting enemies who are sometimes difficult to identify. Fathers, sons, brothers and now sisters, mothers and daughters go in harm’s way. They may never come back—or if they do, they may come back broken or seriously affected by their service.”
Frank urged, “Please don’t ever forget that at this moment we have men and women around the world protecting us and our way of life. We, the many, owe them, the few, a great deal.”
Long a post goal
The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness.
Post 162 is the post for residents of Hillsdale, Woodcliff Lake, and Old Tappan. Active membership includes veterans from the greater Pascack Valley, Northern New Jersey, and from out of state.
Frank said that in 2017, when he was mayor, he requested an Open Space grant from the county for the project. This required Hillsdale to come up with half the cost.
“I did so with the understanding it that we would not burden Hillsdale taxpayers, and that American Legion Post 162 would raise the funds to complete the project,” he said.
He thanked former Borough Administrator and CFO Jon DeJoseph and Borough Engineer Chris Statile for their help in preparing the grant and ensuing contract.
In 2018 organizers learned that the county would approve the grant, and design work started. A committee took months on the work, prioritizing the memorial as an education feature.
Frank thanked the committee members: Past Commander Phil Langner, Past Commander George DeRosa Sr., Vice Commander Mike Gela, and Trustee Demm Healy Jr.
Designer says outpouring gave her courage
The committee took its concept to Christine Mann, who works for Statile, and she volunteered to handle layout and design.
“I think it is apparent that she did a fabulous job,” Frank said.
Mann told Pascack Press that the project turned out as a career highlight.
“The outpouring of appreciation I have received—knowing how much it meant to the veterans and their families—is one of the most rewarding feelings I could ever have,” she said.
She said the experience gave her “courage to do what I do best, and to do what I truly love,” and so she’s launching her own design business.
Mann said her vision for this project was first to find a way to honor those who have served and are serving.
“We decided to have the different war memorials to show each conflict clearly on new granite stones, showing the dates and educational facts about them,” she said. The memorial includes a scannable QR code linked to a wealth of related content online.
Mann explained she wanted the place to be inviting, part of the existing park, but also to afford the feeling of solitude, a trick she accomplished with the project’s shape and landscaping accents: flowering trees, ground cover, shrubs, and lighting.
A bloody history
Presenting on America’s early wars was Post 162 Judge Advocate Kathy Maalouf, U.S. Navy.
Post 162 Legionnaire Louisa Toledo, U. S. Army veteran, presented on World War I.
Post 162 Trustee and Past Commander Phil Langner, U.S. Army veteran, presented on World War II.
Post 162 Past Commander George DeRosa, U.S. Navy veteran, presented on the Korean War.
DeRosa said in part, “My prayer is for my grandchildren and yours not to have to go to war and that their generations need not add any more monuments.”
Post 162 Past Commander Zoltan Horvath, U.S. Army veteran, presented on the Vietnam War.
Horvath said in part the memorial was for kids who went to war “and lost their useful dreams, and some, their lives, for a cause—freedom and honor—and came back as men with the horrors of war instilled in every fiber of their being.”
He said “They were never given the respect and honor they so dearly deserved from the public or United States government. God will one day judge their actions.”
Post 162 Legionnaire Andrew Elbert, U.S. Navy veteran, spoke for American veterans of actions toward global freedom and the War on Terror.
Presenting on their respective branches: Legionnaires Phil Fonde, U.S. Army; Jim Gerbig, U.S. Navy; Sean Smith, U.S. Marine Corps; Bud Heymann, U.S. Air Force; and Tim Wieland, U.S. Coast Guard.
Donors did their part
More than 130 donors chipped in for the memorial. The post’s goal is $65,000.
Platinum sponsors were given as Oritani Bank Charitable Foundation, Washington Township; Inserra ShopRite of Hillsdale; Becker Funeral Home in Westwood; Doug and Eleanor Frank; Hillsdale Police Department; Garrett J. Pinke; Pascack Valley Chamber of Commerce; Valley Bank in Hillsdale; Westwood Banana Company in Hillsdale; and Nadine Fionda.
Gold donors are listed as Commander Philip Langner, Frank and Vaughn Ruh, TD Bank in Hillsdale, Park Ridge Elks, Suez N.A., Tom and Eileen Ivancich, Kings Markets in Hillsdale, Art Dalle Molle, The Correri family, Sons of the Legion Squadron 162, Andrew Elbert, the Rattino family, Trinity Presbyterian Church in Ridgewood, Boy Scout Troop 109 of Hillsdale, Demm B. Healy Jr., Temco Heating and Air Conditioning of Hillsdale, and Demarest Farm and Orchard LLC.
For more information, visit americanlegionpost162.org.
COMMUNITY VOICES: Reader says ‘Kudos on veterans memorial’
To the editor:
I am a 51-year resident of Hillsdale and served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps in 1957 as part of the Reserve Forces Act of 1955.
Congratulations are in order for the efforts of Commander Doug Frank and his fellow American Legion Post 162 members for bringing the new veterans memorial to fruition. The dedication, held at Memorial Park on Sunday, Nov. 3, was well coordinated, with speakers representing all branches of the service sharing the backgrounds of each of the branches.
Commander Frank made clear the point that the memorial is a veterans memorial, not a war memorial. In his closing remarks he commented that he hoped Hillsdale would never have to expand the memorial in the years to come.
All citizens should stop by and learn more of the ultimate sacrifice made by the men and women represented at the memorial. Again, congratulations to Commander Frank and all those who worked with him on this meaningful undertaking.
—Hank Mensing, Hillsdale