Generations of Local 4 New Jersey Members Save Korean War Memorial

Working on the Memorial, front to back, at left, Matt Ortiz, Matt Faist, William Hempstead; front to back, at right, Matt Massimo, instructor Leroy Wilson, Bill Gulfo, Eugene Bland, and apprentice Donald Taylor.

Five years ago, Korean War veterans in Hudson County, NJ began to raise money to build a memorial to honor local veterans of the war. The group made great progress: they acquired property on which to build the Memorial, hired an architect, and purchased the building materials. But after incurring those expenses, they found they had little left to complete the memorial. That’s when Local 4 New Jersey came to the rescue.

“When they contacted me about the project and explained their predicament, I knew that we had to help, and our members – young and old – responded” says Local 4 Business Manager Gerry Della Salla.

A group of Local 4 members including pre-job trainees, apprentices, an instructor, and retirees all volunteered to install the pavers engraved with the veterans names at the Memorial. Thanks to their hard work this Memorial now stands as a lasting tribute to those brave individuals.

Completing the project, from left to right, Andy Kemmel, Donald Taylor, instructor Leroy Wilson, Matt Massimo, William Hempstead, Matt Ortiz, Bill Gulfo, Matt Faist, and Eugene Bland.