Memorial History
The idea for the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial had its beginnings on Veterans Day, November 11, 1982.
A contingent of New Jersey veterans attending the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. realized the need for just such a memorial in the State of New Jersey. Working with state legislators, veterans and community groups, and individuals too numerous to list, they saw the process begin to take shape.
Over the next three years, these veterans worked with state legislators, veterans groups, community groups and individuals to generate support for a tribute to all New Jerseyans who served during the Vietnam War. This grassroots effort, led by William Caubet, State Senator Edward T. O’Connor, Jr., and others was the impetus for the building of the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial & Museum in our state.
On January 21, 1986, Governor Tom Kean signed into law the bill that created a 14 member New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Committee. The committee’s charter was to select a suitable location for the construction, conduct a competition for the design of a memorial honoring New Jersey’s veterans of the Vietnam conflict, determine methods of financing the construction, and to initiate fundraising. Included in the bill was a one-time grant of $25,000 to fund the design contest.
In the spring of 1986, the committee selected the 5.5-acre site on the grounds of the Garden State Arts Center in Holmdel, Monmouth County, from a list of 6 possible sites from across New Jersey. Dedication ceremonies were held at the site in the spring of 1987. A design contest was held from the spring of 1987 to the spring of 1988, drawing over 400 entries that were judged by a select panel of experts from the arts, historic, and Veterans communities in New Jersey.
On July 7, 1988, the design submitted by Hien Nguyen, a refugee who left South Vietnam thirteen years earlier, was unveiled. Hien’s design contains a 200-foot diameter open-air pavilion, inside of which are 366 black granite panels.
The New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation was created and incorporated under the laws of the State of New Jersey as a non-profit organization in September 1987 to assist the committee in building the Memorial. The Memorial Committee was later dissolved.
Groundbreaking ceremonies were held at the site with Governor Tom Kean on May 7, 1989, with veterans groups, family members, and state and local officials in attendance. It would take another two and half years until sufficient funds were raised to start the initial phase of the Memorial’s construction.
During 1990-1991, design concepts were solicited from New Jersey’s sculpting community for the three statues included in the memorial design. The work of Thomas Jay Warren, formerly of Trenton, was chosen and unveiled at ceremonies in the State House Annex in Trenton, in May 1991.
The fundraising momentum had been slowly building through the years but needed a helping hand from New Jersey‘s corporate community. In 1990, Governor Florio asked Robert P. Luciano, then chairman and CEO of Schering-Plough Corporation, to lead the corporate fundraising effort. Through his efforts and a generous contribution of $1 million from Caesars Atlantic City, the first phase of construction began in November 1991. Governor Jim Florio presided over the event at which veterans and family members witnessed the first stage of construction. This phase continued through 1992 and into the winter of 1993.
To further bolster fundraising, additional pieces of legislation were passed to allow counties and municipalities to annually appropriate funds in support of the Memorial. The Legislature also placed the Memorial Fund on New Jersey‘s state income tax form. Residents can now direct a portion of their tax refund to the Memorial. Legislation also established Charity Day at the Races, so a portion of the proceeds at each of the state‘s eight racetracks would be given to the Memorial.
The first phase of construction began on November 19, 1991. Ceremonies on that day were attended by Governor Jim Florio and hundreds of veterans and family members, all of whom witnessed a bulldozer’s first cut into the earth. This first phase of work continued through 1992 and 1993, stopping only during the winter months.
The various construction phases of the Memorial lasted more than four years. As new money was raised to support the construction, another phase of the Memorial was completed. Finally in the fall of 1994, the final phase of construction began and a target date of May 7, 1995 was set to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the end of the war.
The Memorial Statues
In February 1990, designs for the three statues were solicited from New Jersey sculptors and an impartial committee composed of members from the veterans, arts, cultural, and historical communities judged the designs submitted.
Trenton sculptor Thomas Jay Warren‘s design was selected. Warren not only created an impressive and magnificent work, but he gave the three heroic figures souls. The three bronze figures under the red oak tree represent men and women of all races and backgrounds – symbolizing those who came home, the women who served and, those who did not return.
The New Jersey State Elks agreed to raise the funds needed for the statue, totaling $187,000. The Elks became an integral part of the grassroots fundraising effort.