Plaque in Haverstraw Village to commemorate village’s WWII sacrifices

BY MICHAEL RICONDA

HAVERSTRAW – A memorial dedicated to Haverstraw residents who served in World War II has been in place for some time in Haverstraw Bay Memorial Park, but now there will be a tangible reminder of the identities of the men who made the ultimate sacrifice.

A bronze memorial plaque which lists the names of the dead is slated to be installed in the the village’s Clock Park, courtesy of Haverstraw’s General Warren Emergency Company #2 of the Haverstraw Fire Department.

The idea was entertained thanks to Joseph Gordon, the department’s current committee chairman and a World War II veteran, who proposed the plaque at a department meeting. Gordon proposed the memorial be paid by the Department in full to honor those who served.

“My whole life he’s been wanting to do something like this,” Joseph’s son John said. “There were probably 300 plus people who actually went-himself included-but 18 never came back.”

An honor roll of village residents who went off to war had been constructed in 1943, but it was taken down in the late 1960s after it fell into a state of disrepair. Since then, Joseph entertained the idea of a new monument.

According to John, the plaque has been received by the department but has not been set up yet. It is due to be laid down at some point in the next two weeks.

A dedication ceremony will be held for the plaque on Memorial Day at 10 a.m. at the junction of New Main Street and Maple Avenue. Jim Freeman, a family member of one of the deceased, will speak at the ceremony. Other family and the general public are invited to attend as well.