WESTWOOD, N.J.—We go back nearly a century to Nov. 11, 1922, when Westwood celebrated Armistice Day—as it was known then—with the dedication of a monument to honor the borough’s servicemen of the Great War.
Approximately 2,000 people gathered in the park in downtown Westwood to witness the unveiling of a large granite monument that listed the servicemen of all branches of the military who served in World War I. It stands in Veterans Memorial Park today.
Two Gold Star mothers—women who lost their sons in service—pulled the ropes that removed the flags draping the monument. The audience cheered as it came into view, a band played, and six uniformed soldiers fired a salute.
A parade preceded the ceremony, with many ex-servicemen participating. Among them was Civil War veteran Genest Ottignon in his Grand Army uniform. Ottignon served as second corporal of Company D of the New Jersey Infantry Regiment. He became Westwood’s first fire chief. Born in 1840, he died on the eighth anniversary of Armistice Day, Nov. 11, 1926.
Westwood’s two Gold Star mothers were Mrs. Lester and Mrs. Staples, whose sons were Ralph W. Lester and Clarence M. Staples. Lester was killed in action in France in September of 1918. The borough’s Veterans of Foreign Wars post is named for him. Staples served with the Canadian Signal Corps and died in 1919. He is buried in Westwood Cemetery. Also buried in the cemetery is Navy man John Wiget, who died in 1919.
Americans will commemorate Veterans Day on Monday, Nov. 11. The staff of Pascack Press wishes to express our gratitude to all of the men and women, past and present, who have served in our nation’s armed forces.