NORTHFIELD — The city will be paying homage to military veterans who were injured while answering the call of duty during a ceremony May 21 at Northfield Veterans Park.
During the event, slated to begin at 11 a.m., the portion of Oak Avenue alongside the park will be dedicated as Purple Heart Way and part of the walking path as Purple Heart Path.
Deputy City Clerk Shannon Campbell said engineer Rami Nassar arranged for students in the computer-aided design class at Atlantic County Institute of Technology to create a landscape design and plant flowers and shrubs leading up to the monument May 10.
“Under the direction of instructors Drew Holm, Mike Kuharik and Amie Kleva, students endured the windy weather and spruced up the park,” Campbell said, adding that students in the carpentry class will be completing the Purple Heart Path sign, which will include a QR code with information about the park that will be read during the ceremony by four-time Purple Heart recipient Marco Polo Smigliani, chairman of the Atlantic County Veterans Advisory Board.
“The 3-acre piece of land you are standing on was a former commercial orchard, owned by a prominent local family, famous for orchid growing, for generations. The city of Northfield purchased the land for $750,000 through a grant from Atlantic County’s open space program in 2009. The program required the property be maintained as a passive open space, meaning it must remain undeveloped with no athletic fields or playground equipment.
“The city dedicated the space as a place to honor U.S. military veterans at the recommendation of 85-year-old Northfield resident and U.S. Navy veteran Bob Webb, who was a member and past commander of American Legion Post 295, and ardent supporter of veterans everywhere.
“Work began in 2011 to convert the city-owned land into a veterans park, where U.S. veterans of all wars can reflect and all can honor those who have fought for their country’s freedom, and the work continues today.
“As a first step, a monument was constructed at the section of the site nearest to the pavement of Oak Avenue. It features a large, gray block of marble dedicated to U.S. veterans and is surrounded by several small military statues and American flags stuck in the soil. “Surrounding this area is a walkway consisting of engraved memorial bricks dedicated to local veterans and their supporters.
“The Prisoner of War Chair, which sits in the center of the park, was dedicated on Veterans Day 2016. The chair was donated by Rolling Thunder Chapter 4 of New Jersey in a very heart-warming ceremony attended by over 200 people.
“The All-Wars Memorial was originally dedicated June 18, 1944, during Mayor George Parker’s administration. The names of 266 men and women in the armed services, and five men in the merchant marine, were listed.
“The Korean War and Vietnam portions of the monument were dedicated to the honor and memory of those who chose service above self by the Mainland Rotary Club and Northfield American Legion Post 295.
“The All-Wars Memorial was moved to its current location in the fall of 2019, where it proudly rests today as a reminder of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
“The city of Northfield has a long-standing tradition of recognizing and honoring members of the armed services who have so valiantly served our country and our community through events such as the annual Memorial Day service and Veterans Day service.
“In keeping with our long-standing tradition of honoring past, present, and future members of our armed forces, Purple Heart Way and Purple Heart Path were dedicated May 21, 2022, to give special recognition to all recipients of the Purple Heart award, and especially those who are citizens of Northfield, New Jersey.”
Beautification of our park continues today. Donations are accepted and bricks can be purchased through cityofnorthfield.org.
Campbell said Smigliani approached Councilman Dave Notaro in late 2020 or early 2021 after Somers Point dedicated its bike path and asked if the city could do something similar. Notaro suggested that Oak Avenue from Zion to Mill be dedicated as Purple Heart Way and she suggested the designation of Purple Heart Path. City Council approved both in March 2021.
Campbell said after the students completed the project in Northfield, they went to Somers Point to work on its Purple Heart Way project on the bike path near Patriots Park.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff