MIDDLETOWN – The work of a veteran is never really over.
After service in the military to protect the Americans throughout many different conflicts, one group of Middletown veterans now works to uphold the legacy of all their fellow servicemen.
After service in the military to protect the Americans throughout many different conflicts, one group of Middletown veterans now works to uphold the legacy of all their fellow servicemen.
American Legion Post 338, based in the Leonardo section of Middletown, is donating $1,000 to help fund township repairs to the life-size World War I Doughboy monument in the Belford section of town.
Built in the 1930s, the Doughboy, along with the park he currently stands in, sits between two residential properties on Church Street. He stands at attention in full uniform with the barrel of a rifle in his right hand and the butt of the rifle on the ground. A bronze plaque mounted on the front of the granite pedestal contains the names of several dozen WWI veterans from Belford, Port Monmouth and New Monmouth.
“Doughboy” is an informal term for a member of the U.S. Army or Marine Corps, most closely associated with troops in the First World War.
“When I looked at the statue, I thought, ‘That could be my Uncle John there’,” post commander Ron Stark said. “Let’s make this thing stay.”
About 10 years ago, Post 338 was instrumental in the first phase of renovations to the site, donating nearly $10,000 to provide a much-needed facelift to the lot. Overgrown shrubs and trees were either taken out or trimmed back, a walkway was installed from the street to the concrete soldier and a new flagpole, fully equipped with a new flag, was put into place.
Built in the 1930s, the Doughboy, along with the park he currently stands in, sits between two residential properties on Church Street. He stands at attention in full uniform with the barrel of a rifle in his right hand and the butt of the rifle on the ground. A bronze plaque mounted on the front of the granite pedestal contains the names of several dozen WWI veterans from Belford, Port Monmouth and New Monmouth.
“Doughboy” is an informal term for a member of the U.S. Army or Marine Corps, most closely associated with troops in the First World War.
“When I looked at the statue, I thought, ‘That could be my Uncle John there’,” post commander Ron Stark said. “Let’s make this thing stay.”
About 10 years ago, Post 338 was instrumental in the first phase of renovations to the site, donating nearly $10,000 to provide a much-needed facelift to the lot. Overgrown shrubs and trees were either taken out or trimmed back, a walkway was installed from the street to the concrete soldier and a new flagpole, fully equipped with a new flag, was put into place.
Currently, what worries these veterans is the condition of the statue. The trigger guard on the Doughboy’s rifle is missing, and there are holes between the soldier’s hat and head, meaning some level of degradation has begun.
“They are the two things that they (Middletown) will be restoring, because everything else on the Doughboy looks good,” said Tom Garretson, who has been with Post 338 for the past 26 years. “It isn’t cracked; it’s not going to fall over. It looks like it could stand another 90 years.”
“They are the two things that they (Middletown) will be restoring, because everything else on the Doughboy looks good,” said Tom Garretson, who has been with Post 338 for the past 26 years. “It isn’t cracked; it’s not going to fall over. It looks like it could stand another 90 years.”
Maintenance for the memorial has become a labor of love for the Leonardo-based chapter.
“Actually, it’s sort of our job, too,” said former post commander Jim Dreher. “It’s part of our program to help the community – and do what we can for our community – even with things that aren’t veteran-related.”
Despite the fact that the monument has stood since the 1930s, some suggested the Doughboy be taken down and replaced.
Stark, a second-year commander at Post 338, believed this would have been a travesty. He felt so strongly about it that he joined the Middletown Township Veterans Affairs Committee to voice his support and the Doughboy project.
“Actually, it’s sort of our job, too,” said former post commander Jim Dreher. “It’s part of our program to help the community – and do what we can for our community – even with things that aren’t veteran-related.”
Despite the fact that the monument has stood since the 1930s, some suggested the Doughboy be taken down and replaced.
Stark, a second-year commander at Post 338, believed this would have been a travesty. He felt so strongly about it that he joined the Middletown Township Veterans Affairs Committee to voice his support and the Doughboy project.
“The reason I wound up on the committee was because I started going to meetings about the Doughboy statue, and I was adamant that that statue stays,” he said. “Whatever it takes to repair it, that’s fine, but we got to partner up to get it done.”
Stark was led there by Garretson, an original member to the committee upon its inception five years ago.
Chaired by members from Post 338, American Legion Post 515 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2179, the group meets once a month to tackle veteran-related issues around town.
“These guys show up to every (meeting). They always have a full agenda, and they’ve done so many good things for veterans,” said Middletown Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger.
Although Scharfenberger is the only member on the committee who is not a veteran, his involvement in veteran-related issues as a young man led to his interest in this committee, which he says is the first municipal committee of its kind in New Jersey. “My dad was a World War II veteran so he always instilled in us how big a deal it was to be in the military and make that sacrifice,” he said. Garretson, who serves as vice-chairman of the committee, has been a key figure in one of the committees other important projects: dedicating streets around the township to fallen soldiers.
Chaired by members from Post 338, American Legion Post 515 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2179, the group meets once a month to tackle veteran-related issues around town.
“These guys show up to every (meeting). They always have a full agenda, and they’ve done so many good things for veterans,” said Middletown Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger.
Although Scharfenberger is the only member on the committee who is not a veteran, his involvement in veteran-related issues as a young man led to his interest in this committee, which he says is the first municipal committee of its kind in New Jersey. “My dad was a World War II veteran so he always instilled in us how big a deal it was to be in the military and make that sacrifice,” he said. Garretson, who serves as vice-chairman of the committee, has been a key figure in one of the committees other important projects: dedicating streets around the township to fallen soldiers.
In 2013, he pitched the idea of honoring Middletown residents killed in action by rededicating streets in the township with their names. Dubbed the Fallen Veteran Commemorative Street Sign Program, Garretson, with help from his committee and the township, have already dedicated 46 streets.
On these 46 streets, unique red, white and blue-colored signs reside underneath the traditional green-and-white street signs. Included on each sign is the soldier’s full name, their theater of war, branch of service, an American flag and a gold star.
“To tell you the truth, it was probably the best program I’ve ever worked on in my life,” Garretson said. “I’ve been volunteering for so many years, and it’s the one I’ve been waiting for.”
The next phase of street sign dedications will begin in April 2017, and will focus on the recognition of World War I soldiers from Middletown. With the Doughboy monu- ment renovation talks underway, this phase of the sign project could not have come at a better time.
Garretson believes it is the communication between his committee and the township government that has made the Veterans Affairs Committee such a strong voice in Middletown.
“They understand what we’re doing, they respect what we’re doing, and the bottom line is it’s for the families.”
On these 46 streets, unique red, white and blue-colored signs reside underneath the traditional green-and-white street signs. Included on each sign is the soldier’s full name, their theater of war, branch of service, an American flag and a gold star.
“To tell you the truth, it was probably the best program I’ve ever worked on in my life,” Garretson said. “I’ve been volunteering for so many years, and it’s the one I’ve been waiting for.”
The next phase of street sign dedications will begin in April 2017, and will focus on the recognition of World War I soldiers from Middletown. With the Doughboy monu- ment renovation talks underway, this phase of the sign project could not have come at a better time.
Garretson believes it is the communication between his committee and the township government that has made the Veterans Affairs Committee such a strong voice in Middletown.
“They understand what we’re doing, they respect what we’re doing, and the bottom line is it’s for the families.”
