Hammonton Veterans Memorial Park
Its northeast boundary is School House Lane, while Hammonton’s Presbyterian Church is to the southwest. In addition to honoring the veterans of past wars, the Park also provides space for a moment of peaceful respite from the hectic days of current living.
Historically, the park consisted of two parcels of farmland respectively owned by Mary Tilton and Marietta Jacobs of Hammonton, with each parcel stretching from Bellevue Avenue to Vine Street. On March 29, 1910, ownership of the parcels was transferred to the Hammonton Board of Education which was considering building a local “high school” on the land. As it turned out, the high school was eventually built on the south side of Vine Street instead of the north side and the land became a park. It was initially called “Central School Park” but was later shortened to simply “School Park”. Shortly after World War I it was decided to place the memorial for that war in the School Park. Still later it was further decided to put two World War II memorials also in the School Park, paving the way for the practice of placing wartime memorials in the Park. On March 28, 1974 title to the Park was transferred to the Town of Hammonton from the Hammonton Board of Education. And at that time, the Park was renamed Veterans Memorial Park, which name it continues to have to the present day.
Figure 2: Landscape view of podium.
Figure 3: Landscape view of Veterans Memorial Park
By 1974, the Park contained three war memorial monuments, one for World War I and two for World War II. A fourth memorial covering the veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars was added in 1987 bringing the total number of monuments to its current number of four (as of 2012).
Each monument is respectively described in the paragraphs that follow.
Figure 4: World War I Memorial
Figure 5: Headstone of Private Joseph A. Passalaqua
The monument was originally located along the centerline of the park and facing Bellevue Avenue. In 1947, related to the construction of the World War II Deceased monument, the World War I monument was moved from its center line location to a point in the northeastern part of the park to make room for the World War II Deceased monument in the northwestern part. To everyone’s surprise, during the excavation to move the World War I monument, a two foot square sealed copper box, buried on May 12, 1921, was discovered beneath it containing memorabilia of that era.
Roll of Honor
Erected by the Residents of
Hammonton, New Jersey
In Honor Of Those Who Served Their Country
IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR
In Memoriam
c. Roll of Honor: Listed in the Roll of Honor are the names of the brave Hammontonians who served in the armed forces of their country with honor and distinction during World War I, and to whom their fellow citizens are forever grateful.
Click Here to view WWI Roll of Honor
3. World War II Honor Roll Memoriala. Comments. This simple, elegant memorial consists of a 15 foot high.
Figure 6: World War II Memorial
Gray stone rectangular obelisk with a sculptured lamp burning the flame of eternal vigilance at the top. The monument forms a long rectangular shaped prism, narrower at the top than the bottom. Each side contains an insignia of each branch of the four services—Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. Also, each side contains a copy of the monument’s inscription. At the bottom of the four sides are the names of the war veterans inscribed on bronze plaques, now turned green with time.
Figure 7: Northwest Facade of World War II Memorial (With Army Insignia)
Figure 8: Southwest Facade of World War II Memorial (With Navy Insignia)
Figure 9: Southeast Facade of World War II Memorial (With Air Force Insignia)
Figure 10: Northeast Facade of World War II Memorial (With Marine Corps Insignia)
World War II
1941-1945
A tribute of
respect and
honor to the
dead. A constant
source of
inspiration to
the living men
and women of
this community.
Click Here to view WWII Roll of Honor
Figure 12. World War II Deceased Monument
a. Comments: The World War II Deceased Memorial is exclusively dedicated to the memory of those Hammontonians killed in the service of their country during World War II. The 8 feet tall gray stone monument features a tall center panel carved with an eagle and inscribed with 33 names of those Hammonton residents who lost their lives in World War II. On short wings, at either side of the main shaft, are the Army and Navy seals.The proud sponsor of the monument was the Hammonton Joseph Garibaldi Lodge of the Sons of Italy of America, which carried out solicitations throughout the town for its construction. While the actual construction of the monument was completed in 1947, its unveiling and dedication were delayed until the following year to Sunday April 25, 1948, in time for the 1948 Memorial Day celebrations occurring the following month. The monument stands in the northwestern part of the park and complements the larger World War II Honor Roll monument located in the central part of the park.
Dedicated to the Honored Memory of our Loved
Ones who so Nobly Gave their Lives for
FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY in World War II.
5. Korea & Vietnam Wars Memorial
Figure 13. Korea-Vietnam Wars Monument
DEDICATED TO
THOSE OF ALL SERVICES
WHO HAVE SERVED
AND DIED IN
KOREA
AND
VIETNAM
c. Roll of Honor: Listed in the Roll of Honor are the names of the Hammontonians who served in the armed forces of their country with honor and distinction during the Korean or Vietnam wars, and to whom their fellow citizens are forever grateful.