Memorial’s completion brings town together BY COLLEEN LUTOLF Staff Writer PHOTOS BY MIGUEL JUAREZ staff John Petro (l) searches for his name and the names of his brothers, Julius and Ernest, at the newly renovated Woodbridge Proper Honor Roll Veterans Memorial. Michael Serak of Post No. 471 in Iselin looks for his name after Saturday’s unveiling ceremony. WOODBRIDGE — More than 100 residents gathered at Honor Roll Veterans Memorial Saturday to celebrate the restoration of the once crumbling monument. Approximately 10 men in attendance were at the rededication ceremony because their names appears on the wall. George Wyatt was one of them. "I think it’s a nice thing that enough people got involved to get behind it," Wyatt, a retired major in the U.S. Army who served in World War II and Korea, said of getting the American Legion-owned monument renovated. WWII veteran Stu Brandow is honored by American Legion Post No. 87 Commander Andrew Yanez for the $10,000 in donations he raised for the monument’s renovation by selling veterans pins. "I’m proud. I’m very proud. Today my baby’s being born," American Legion Post 87 Commander Andrew Yanez said before the ceremony. In October, local Republicans held a rally at the monument claiming the Democrats in office never made good on a promise to help the Legion fix the monument. Democrats responded with their own press conference, announcing they would develop a fund-raiser that would provide the $25,000 necessary to completely renovate the memorial. On Saturday, members of both parties stood at the memorial side by side to honor Woodbridge veterans and rededicate the monument. Ed McGuinn (l) of Woodbridge and Ed Hulme of Rahway, dressed as WWII soldiers, attend the unveiling of the newly refurbished veterans monument. "Thanks and love [were] shown through the support we received in helping to rebuild this monument," Councilman Charles Kenny, who worked closely with the American Legion in an effort to raise funds for the monument, said in his speech. "It showed that the residents of Woodbridge have not forgotten the sacrifice of those from Woodbridge during World War II." Kenny announced that he will call on state legislators to explore the possibility of a ballot referendum that would raise funds for veterans monuments that needed renovation. "This question, if passed, would give each town the opportunity to put forth their own ballot referendum that would ... allow a town to raise funds just like they do through open space [taxes]. "Here in Wood-bridge," Kenny said, "if we set aside a quarter-cent for two years, we would have $180,000 for times like these when a monument falls into a large state of disrepair where large sums are needed to repair it." Kenny said the monument’s rededication, which was supposed to occur on May 9, Mother’s Day, and whose plaque states that date, had to be delayed because more time was needed to finish the monument’s repairs. Yanez said the crew who was working to have the monument prepared for the dedication were at the monument till 8:30 p.m. the night before. "I didn’t sleep for three days," he said, removing his sunglasses to show his tired eyes. "But we got it done. It was a labor of love. I’m so proud it was done. I don’t know how I’m going to make it through the ceremony without choking up." Stu Brandow, a member of the Avenel VFW, collected $10,000 worth of donations for the monument by selling veterans pins, was made a lifetime member of Post 87 during the ceremony. "You stuck with me now; you’re stuck with me for life, pal," Yanez said to Brandow after honoring him with a statue for his efforts. "It came out fantastic," Brandow said. "It’s a proud thing to work for." Former Councilman James Patten also attended the ceremony. Both his brothers, Nathan and Jack Patten, appear on the wall. Patten said his brother Jack was aboard the aircraft carrier USS Wasp during World War II when it was torpedoed. Patten said Jack came back from the war, but his brother, Nathan, also a Navy man, did not. "My mother was a gold star mother," Patten said. The gold star was given to the mothers of soldiers who perished during the war. "She wore it for as long as I can remember. She would always pin it to her dress," he said. "It’s a fitting and proper dedication we have today. The men and women who have served, we owe them a debt of gratitude," Mayor Frank Pelzman said at the ceremony. "It is so important that we never forget what they have done for us and not only all these names listed on the wall behind me. Because of those who have served, we say, ‘Thank you.’" Dan Fischinger, member of the Sons of the American Legion Post 87, organized the Republican rally at the monument last fall. "I don’t really want to comment on that. I’m just here to honor the veterans. We got done what we had to do," he said. After the ceremony, Pelzman said the Democrats were not responsible for turning the monument into an election issue. "Someone else made it that. We didn’t," he said. "This [ceremony] proves what we said at election time. This was deserved and a long time coming. It is beautiful. I’m pleased and honored. It’s a small payback to those individuals who gave their time and their lives." Councilwoman Brenda Yori-Velasco said after the ceremony that the veterans pins will continue to be available to start a fund for monuments throughout the township that fall into disrepair. "This really was Woodbridge united," Velasco said. "After this, the next step is to ask for donations to go toward monuments throughout the township." Pelzman said he would supply the pins to be sold for donations, like he did with the pins for the honor roll. "We’ll wait and see," he said. "We’ll probably do something to get more pins to refurbish monuments around the town."