Park ‘a reflection of Eatontown and its spirit’

By Sherry conohan
Staff Writer

With help from the Monmouth Conservation Foundation and Green Acres funding, Eatontown was able to obtain the land for a new Veterans Memorial Park which was dedicated July Fourth.

EATONTOWN — With flags waving, the municipal band playing, and a few short speeches apropos for the holiday, the new Veterans Plaza and the renamed Wampum Memorial Park were dedicated July Fourth.

Mayor Gerald J. Tarantolo observed that the dedication was occurring on the 226th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, and said the Veterans Plaza and park stood as a symbol of the declaration’s statement "that all men are created equal and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

"The park is a reflection of Eatontown, its spirit," he added. "It is truly a reflection of what Eatontown is all about — involvement, volunteering."

Plaques were presented, in appreciation of their contributions, to American Legion Post 325, which donated the American flag and the flagpole; Elks Lodge 2402, which donated the MIA/POW flag and pole; Policemen’s Benevolence Association Local 305, which donated the state flag and pole; and the Lions Club, which built the new gazebo in which the Eatontown municipal band played.

Tarantolo also announced that Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8955 had donated money for the purchase of three park benches, which have been ordered but not yet delivered.

Major Gen. William H. Russ, commander of the Army’s Communications-Electronics Command, presented Tarantolo an American flag that had flown over the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., and which was given to the borough by Rep. Rush Holt, D-N.J. who could not be present for the ceremony.

They stood next to the memorials for World War I, World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars, which had been moved to the plaza from elsewhere in the park.

"It is touching to see so many veterans here today," Russ said. "Thank you for your great service to our nation.

"Keep in mind those still in harm’s way," he asked of the audience. "We must not forget that freedom’s never free."

The flag that Russ brought on behalf of Holt was taken out of its box and unfolded for all to see by Boy Scouts David Bell and Danny Gann, who then carefully folded it back up and returned to the mayor.

Sean Bell sang "God Bless America," accompanied by the municipal band.

The band also played several other patriotic songs during the ceremony.

Tarantolo read letters from both Holt and Gov. James E. McGreevey congratulating the borough on completion of the project and its dedication.

The mayor recalled how a proposal to build condominiums where the park now stands was put forward in 1990 and how the Monmouth Conservation Foundation stepped in and bought and held the property until the borough could get its state Green Acres funding in place to purchase it.

"It was not a very palatable day in Eatontown when that site plan came before the Planning Board," he said, referring to the condominium complex.

Tarantolo also put in a plug for the sale of more engraved paving blocks for the 12-by-25-foot Walk of Memories leading to the gazebo. The sale of the pavers at $50 apiece is helping pay for the gazebo.

"We want to sell 400," the mayor said. "Right now we’re at a little over 200."

Tarantolo thanked everyone for coming out despite the heat of the day.

"The fact that everyone’s here is a tribute to all whose names appear on the monuments," he said.