By Frank Sinatra, AAP Editor

Several members of Pennsauken High School’s alumni are raising funds to create a monument on the school’s grounds to honor both alumni and residents who have served their country in the Armed Forces.

Mike Panarella, ’68 has been instrumental in erecting several monuments dedicated to area veterans throughout South Jersey, including ones at Lenape, Shawnee, and Cherokee high schools. Working with Ralph Roesler, ’70, Pete DiAntonio, ‘68, and Tom Piersanti, ‘63, Panarella hopes to create the biggest memorial yet in his home town.

“I’ve wanted to do this for years,” explains Panarella. “My brother is a Vietnam vet. I knew the guys from Pennsauken who died in Vietnam. This is personal.”

The alumni team is working with Bob Zucchi, ’63, owner of New Jersey Marble and Granite on Drexel Ave. and Rt. 130. Plans for the veterans monument call for the creation of three sections in a “wing” design. The main monument will be dedicated to the men and women of Pennsauken High School, who served their country in the military and will include the veterans’ names and the emblems of the six service branches. The first wing will be engraved with the quote from John Maxwell Edmonds, a poet known for the famous epitaph he wrote for the war cemetery commemorating the fallen of the Battle of Kohima in April 1944: “When you go home, tell them of us and say, ‘For their tomorrow, we gave our today.’” The other wing will contain the names of any resident of Pennsauken Township who died during any war. The monument will feature commemorative benches, landscaping and lighting, as well as a pavers that will used to recognize Pennsauken veterans.

“We think it’s going to be good for the town, good for the school, and good for the veterans,” says Panarella.

Approximately $25,000 will need to be raised in order to complete the monument. The group has received generous donations from several alumni, but they also are looking to reach out via a grassroots campaign, including jar collections at various locations throughout town and online crowdfunding. Any additional funds will go to help support the high school’s development of an ROTC program.

“This is a real community project,” says Ralph Roesler. “We’re looking for any class representatives willing to head up outreach for their year. We also want people on Facebook to help spread the word about this.”

Plans also call for a dedication of the monument involving veterans coming back to their alma mater and ceremony that involves the current student body.

“We want to create something special that includes both the kids from the school and alumni who are veterans,” explains Panarella. “In addition, many of my friends who came back from Vietnam never got a proper welcome home. This would be an opportunity to do so.”

For more information, contact Mike Panarella at cavepan@yahoo.com. Additional donations may be sent to the  Alumni Veterans Memorial Fund, c/o Pennsauken Board of Education, 1695 Hylton Rd., Pennsauken N.J. 08110, attention:  Noreen Boston.