April 28, 2021
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Governor Phil Murphy told MidJersey.news this afternoon in a statement:
“Trenton’s World War II Memorial is not just stone and metal. It is just as much the blood, sweat, tears, and toil of a generation who saved our world from the darkest forces of fascism. Desecrating this memorial is dishonoring the sacrifice of thousands of New Jerseyans. We ask anyone with information as to the identity of the person or persons responsible to come forward, so those who vandalized the memorial can be held to account and brought to justice.” — Governor Phil Murphy
If you know of the vandals please contact the Trenton Police Department.
MidJersey.news after reading a Trenton Orbit Facebook post about the damage yesterday morning notified the Governor’s Office about the damage and they sent the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to assess the damage to the monument.
Yesterday’s MidJersey.news story here: DEVELOPING: Vandals Desecrate WWII Memorial In Trenton
NJ World War II Memorial Page:
The State of New Jersey has taken the initiative to honor and remember our “Greatest Generation” of citizens by creating a memorial in Trenton across from the State House at Veterans Park.
Fittingly, the theme for New Jersey’s World War II Memorial is “Victory.” The memorial honors and pays tribute to the courage and the many sacrifices of the World War II Generation. Over 560,000 New Jerseyans served in the armed forces and the state was an important center of industrial production, military training and related activities in support of the war effort.
The Memorial is accessible at all hours at 125 W. State Street, Trenton, NJ 08608
According to Wikipedia “The Fallen Soldier Battle Cross, Battlefield Cross or Battle Cross is a symbolic replacement of a cross, or marker appropriate to an individual service-member’s religion, on the battlefield or at the base camp for a soldier who has been killed. It is made up of the soldier’s rifle stuck into the ground or into the soldier’s boots, with helmet on top. Dog tags are sometimes placed on the rifle, and the boots of the dead soldier can be placed next to the rifle. The purpose is to show honor and respect for the dead at the battle site. The practice started during or prior to the American Civil War, as a means of identifying the bodies on the battleground before removal. Today, it is a means of showing respect for the dead amongst the still living members of the troop. It is commonly seen in the field or base camp after a battle, especially among American troops in Afghanistan or Iraq. While it is used less today as a means of identification, it still serves as a method of mourning among the living, as attending the funeral is not always possible for soldiers still in combat.“
Photos by Brian McCarthy, OnScene News
Photos by Brian McCarthy, OnScene News
Photos by Brian McCarthy, OnScene News