Memorial Day, with its history stretching back all the way to the Civil War, is an important reminder of those who died in the service of their country.
Last weekend, events honoring veterans began with the dedication of the city’s first Vietnam Memorial at Pier A Park. More than 200 people attended the event despite a two-hour delay due to rain. The memorial honors the nine Hoboken residents who lost their lives in Vietnam. In bold letters, the phrase “Gone but not forgotten” is written on the $14,000 granite plaque, along with the names of the servicemen lost.
“These young, strong, brave, proud sons of Hoboken’s working class families, the salt of the earth, like members of their families before them, left the love and memories of families, wives and girlfriends here in Hoboken to serve their country,” said Richard Breyer, the chairman of the Hoboken Vietnam Veterans Memorial Committee at the dedication ceremony, “believing that they were going to aid people in a country that needed help, doing the right thing.”
The Vietnam Memorial project began a little over a year ago. Breyer was inspired by his involvement with a number of Vietnam veterans from Jersey City who built and dedicated a memorial in Pershing Park last year for the 64 men from Jersey City who died. “With the exception of the Sgt. William Fesken Memorial at Little League field, there was nothing [in Hoboken] to remember the others lost [in Vietnam],” said Breyer. “At this point, I decided it was long overdue, and it was time to get busy.”
With the full support of the Jersey City Vietnam Memorial Committee, Breyer first approached Ed Huelbig from the Hoboken Joint Memorial Committee to discuss his plans and get local veterans’ support. Together, they began fundraising efforts. Their first fundraising event was at a Hoboken Motorcycle Club party. Then they hosted a table at the Hoboken Spring Arts and Music Festival, and a third fundraiser was held at the St. Anne’s Feast. Over $2,500 was raised from those events alone.
Those events, coupled with donations from area veterans and a state grant, provided full funding for the project. The veterans listed on the plaque are Raymond J. Brereton, Hans Bretschneider, Robert Brockmann, William Fesken, Gerald Walker, Luis Ortiz-Corredor, Nathan Lunapiena, Larry High, and Louis Muser.
Memorial Day Parade
Wednesday, the retrospective continued with a parade up Washington Street. Families lined both sides of Hoboken’s main thoroughfare to get a glimpse.
Memorial Day was originally proclaimed Decoration Day on May 5, 1868. After the Civil War, people in the North and South decorated graves of fallen soldiers with flowers. The name was officially changed to Memorial Day in 1882.
Jersey City resident and World War II veteran Mario Vargas said that he is deeply indebted to those servicemen and women who have lost their lives in battle.
“I am part of a family whose members have accumulated more than 100 years of service to our Armed Forces,” said Vargas as the parade went by. “My thanks go to all families that lost their loved ones as well as those who are presently serving in the military, be it at home or abroad.”
Fifty-eight year old Hoboken resident Margaret Simms said that it is important to remember local veterans. “Hoboken loves a parade,” said Simms. “And there is no better reason to throw one than to honor the brave souls that protect our freedom.”
Even those who have never served said on Wednesday that it is important to be appreciative for those who go to war in defense of our country.
“They paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect our safety and our way of life,” said 31-year-old father of three John Choi.