Dear Editor:
As a lifelong resident of our great city, I can tell many fine stories about our people. This story started over a half century ago. The year 1946, I was just released by the United States Marine Corp. after service in the South Pacific and China. I came home and married my sweetheart Josephine and settled in a tenement house at 183 4th street and resumed my job as a patrolman for the Pennsylvania Railroad, My job was to prevent crime on railroad property and keep unauthorized people off the property. The property in now known as The Gold Coast. Newport Mall, numerous high rises and business.
My greatest experience was meeting this kid who constantly was on railroad property gathering pieces of coal to keep his home warm. At that time the wood and coal stoves were our source of heat. After many encounters with this kid, he lived a half block from me, I got to know him. He was a nice kid, friendly and polite.
As time went on I moved out of the neighborhood and so did the kid. However thru the years our paths would cross. The kid told me that he was a teacher. I told him that I was a detective in the city. At different times we would have lunch together.
At Christmas time I would invite the kid to the Jersey City Police Retirement Reunion at the Casino in the Park. We always sat together and the kid would always mention how we met.
I forgot to tell you the kid’s name, He was Franklin Williams, former Superintendent of schools P.S. No. 7 is named after him. I was at the dedication. I was invited by the kid. The kid recently passed away. I went to pray my respect and had to park three blocks away with the outpouring of his many friends. The kid lived to see the day that one of his own became President of the United States. I would label this an American story.
In closing remember to say a prayer for the troops in harm’s way.
All Rinn