The Traveling Vietnam Wall: Clark and Garwood

This is a personal post by one of the HNJJ photographers who grew up in Clark and went to Arthur L. Johnson Regional High School which Garwood students also attended.

These seven names on the Vietnam Wall honor residents of Clark and Garwood in Union County. They played on the same streets we did, went to some of the same schools. They grew up. They graduated...



Joseph Vincent Whelan - Garwood - 1942-1969

John Winters - Clark - 1950-1969

Thomas Edward Badavas - Garwood - 1946-1967

Richard Danner Hartman - Clark - 1935-1967

Kenneth Edward Kuspiel - Clark - 1947-1968

Robert Lee Sevell - Clark - 1943-1968

Kevin Corcoran - Garwood - 1950-1968


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Forever Young by Joan Baez

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Each name is linked to their Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall Page.
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The photographs were taken at the Traveling Vietnam Wall last week in Bridgewater, NJ.
Thank you.
Susan G. - ALJRHS Class of 1968

The Traveling Vietnam Wall - Sunrise

Saturday sunrise at the American Veterans Traveling Vietnam Wall exhibit at North Branch Park...


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For music click on the smaller triangle below:
Kujicity blog: Four Seasons 2010 in My Hometown

[Due to a translation problem HNJJ doesn't have the exact name and performer...yet.]

Traveling Vietnam Wall Honors Law Enforcement and First Responders

Friday evening's ceremonies at the American Veterans Traveling Tribute and traveling Vietnam Wall exhibit honored Law Enforcement and First Responders.

The ceremony included speeches by Peapack-Gladstone Chief Gregory Skinner,Deacon Lawrence Duffy, Somerset County Prosecutor Geoffrey Soriano, Somerset County Sheriff Frank Provenzano, and Somerset County Mutual Aid Fir Coordinator Doug Rue. Karren Newman of the Somerset County Park Commission sang the National Anthem, three wreaths were laid and the Somerset County Police Pipes and Drums played...

The people who attended - the veterans, the police,rescue squad members,and fire fighters,those who worked on the program and participated, the sponsors, the family members, those remembering the veterans whose names are on the Wall, and residents who thought that it was important to be there...

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Once to Every Man and Nation arranged and played by Ray Pool...

First verse (hymn):

Once to every man and nation, comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of truth with falsehood, for the good or evil side;
Some great cause, some great decision, offering each the bloom or blight,
And the choice goes by forever, ’twixt that darkness and that light.

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The rain broke for the ceremonies...

Photographs courtesy of Susan Gulliford
and George Mariasz.

Traveling Vietnam Wall Opening Day

The Opening Day Ceremonies for the American Veterans Traveling Tribute including the traveling Vietnam Wall exhibit took place at North Branch Park on Thursday, October 13, 2011.

The Opening Ceremonies included the presentation of the colors, the singing of the National Anthem, speakers, and the laying of wreaths...

The Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders presented commemorative medals honoring Somerset County veterans who served during the Vietnam war...

The people who attended - including the veterans, those who worked on the program and participated, the sponsors, the family members, those remembering the veterans whose names are on the Wall, and residents who thought that it was important to be there...
A final thank you to the musicians who wrote and performed three songs for the ceremony, Tyler Mylroie, Joe Reina, Joe Reina,Jr., and Bob Burke...

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Try to Remember by Andy Williams...

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Photographs courtesy of Susan Gulliford and George Mariasz.

Traveling Vietnam Wall in Bridgewater

The American Veterans Traveling Tribute and Traveling Vietnam Wall opens tomorrow at the Somerset County Park Commission's North Branch Park, 355 Milltown Road, Bridgewater.

The centerpiece of the display is the Traveling Vietnam Wall, a 370-foot-long 80% scale model of the Washington D.C. Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

The wall opens to visitors at 1 p.m. on Thursday, October 13th and is open 24-hours-a-day until Sunday, October 16th at 3 p.m.. There are daily events scheduled and the VA will have counselors on site at all times.

Thursday's Schedule:
The Wall and Exhibits open to the public at 1pm.

Opening ceremonies at 6pm -
Presentation of colors by Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 452 color guard
Opening Remarks and Pledge of Allegiance led by NJ Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman
Singing of the national anthem by Isabel Stein, Annandale NJ
Invocation and blessing of the wall and exhibits by Deacon John R. Pacifico, St. Ann’s Roman Catholic Church, Raritan NJ
County Welcome by Somerset County Freeholder Director Robert Zaborowski
Remarks by NJ Deputy Commissioner for Veterans Affairs Ray Zawacki
Remarks by NJ Assemblyman Peter J. Biondi
Remarks by Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 452 President John LeGates

Laying of wreaths:
POW/MIA wreath by Freeholders Robert Zaborowski and Peter S. Palmer
Gold Star Mothers of New Jersey wreath by Charlene Cosgrove-Bowie
Military Order of Purple Hearts Chapter 27 wreath - Ted Dima and Ken Meaney
Department of New Jersey Marine Corps League wreath by Rosemary Fleming

Presentation by the Board of Chosen Freeholders of commemorative medals honoring Somerset County veterans who served during the Vietnam Era

Musical Performance by Tyler Mylroie, Joe Reina, Sr., Joe Reina, Jr., and Bob Burke
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For more information on this event go here.

The daily events schedule is here.