By Frank Sinatra, AAP Editor
On a clear and sun-filled Thursday in October, members of the Pennsauken community gathered on the grounds of Pennsauken High School. Alumni and veterans; staff and students; public officials and honored guests; all came together to dedicate a special monument that honors Pennsauken’s veterans – both PHS alumni and residents alike – who served their country in the Armed Forces.
“Today we come together in remembrance of and in tribute to some of Pennsauken’s finest and bravest,” says Captain John H. Bailey ‘67, U.S. Navy, who gave the opening remarks. “It is important that we do this. The courage shown by our sailors, soldiers, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen deserves a special place of reflection.”
“What you’re doing here today is so important. You are honoring the memories of these warriors and great Americans from Pennsauken, ensuring their families and the community that they will never be forgotten,” added Major General Steven J. Hashem, U.S. Army, who gave the key note address during the ceremony. “This monument is also one of hope and love. A chance to cherish the freedom that we hold dear and to embrace the future we now dare to dream.”
The veterans monument consists of three sections in a “wing” design. The main monument is dedicated to the men and women of Pennsauken High School, who served their country in the military and includes the emblems of the six service branches. The first wing is 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 contains the names of any resident of Pennsauken Township who died during any war. Bob Zucchi, ’63, owner of New Jersey Marble and Granite on Drexel Ave. and Rt. 130, was instrumental in the creation of this permanent structure on the grounds of the high school.
The ceremony to dedicate this special monument was filled with many poignant and emotional moments. There were stirring performances of patriotic songs by both Pennsauken High School’s Marching Band, under the direction of Nick DeNofa, and the Double Dozen choir, under the direction of Kate Brown. Veterans in attendance – especially those who served in Vietnam – were recognized for their service to their country. A bronze “Battlefield Cross,” a symbolic marker made up of the soldier’s rifle stuck into the ground or into the soldier’s boots, with helmet on top, was dedicated as part of the memorial plaza. “Pennsauken Valor,” a portrait painted by Stan Kotzen, a former teacher, assistant football coach and drama director at Pennsauken High School and an Army veteran, was unveiled and presented to the school. There was even a graduation ceremony: Master Sergeant Randy Maute, United States Marine Corps, enlisted in the military prior to graduating in 1968. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ronnie Tarchichi and Pennsauken Board of Education President Nick Perry presented Randy with his official high school diploma.
But the most moving portion of the ceremony was the reading of 15 names. Names of Pennsauken residents who went off to war and never came home: Terrence P. Allen, Thomas L. Busch, III, John S. DiBenedetto, Michael Egan, James M. Esposito, Matthew J. Henkel Jr., Joseph L. Hesson, III, Frank J. Kohlmyer, Thomas C Miller, Maria I. Ortiz, Richard Patterson, Elmer R. Pease, Jr., Anthony Piersanti, Jr., Harold Russo, and John Edward Tipton.
“The names on this monument may be from days long ago, but they represent a son or daughter, brother or sister, friend or classmate to someone,” says Township Committeeman Jack Killion, whose brother, Thomas J. Killion, gave his life during the Vietnam War. “They are an unfulfilled dream that a parent had for their child, taken away too soon. But they are also the symbol of bravery, hope and freedom.
“To the young people here today, as well as those of my own generation, perhaps we should look at this memorial as a reminder to take stock of ourselves and what it truly means to be an American. To strive in the choices we make in our future, as well as the way we live in our present, so that we can collectively try to emulate the men and women reflected in this memorial. To make an effort to be better, to do better, and contribute more in a positive way to help shape the days to come, so that we can preserve the rights that these heroes gave their lives for. Let us all remember that this is the ‘home of the free because of the brave.’”
In closing, Michael Panarella, chairperson of the Pennsauken High School Alumni Veterans Memorial Committee, thanked the many people who helped make the dream of this monument a reality, including the members of the committee; Pennsauken’s Board of Education; the Pennsauken School District’s facilities crew; Pennsauken High School’s staff and students; and Pennsauken Township’s administration. He expressed a desire for the memorial to be an integral part of veterans’ observances in the future.
“It is the wish of this committee and the veterans that twice a year, Pennsauken can honor veterans on Memorial Day and Veterans Day with a small service,” says Panarella. “This way, we can keep what started here today moving forward.”
Donations are still being collected for the memorial and can be sent to the Alumni Veterans Memorial Fund, c/o Pennsauken Board of Education, 1695 Hylton Rd., Pennsauken N.J. 08110, attention: Noreen Boston. There are also a limited number of engraved stone pavers to be placed along the walkway of the monument, which will be used to recognize all veterans of all wars who served in the United States Military. Pavers are available at $50 each. The deadline for ordering pavers is Friday, Nov. 11. For more information on the paver project, contact Jerry Hutton at (609) 605-2156.
