On Veteran’s Day, veterans, families, students, community leaders and elected officials gathered at Pershing Field for a special rededication of the “America Triumphant” monument in front of the Vietnam Veterans Community Center. The statue was originally unveiled on July 4, 1922 in memory of the 147 Hudson City residents who gave their lives in World War I. But over time, well-intentioned efforts to maintain the monument with paint had damaged its patina and overall appearance, and the original tablet listing the names ofthe soldiers who died had been lost.
The Pershing Field Garden Friends raised $65,000 for the restoration of the monument. In addition to restoring the finish of the statue and granite boulder and replacing the original tablet, the restoration involved the installation of a new, colorful mosaic at the base of the monument to serve as a durable surface for children to play on respectfully.
At the ceremony, the Pershing Field Garden Friends presented an award to Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise in recognition of the role that funding from the Hudson County Open Space, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Trust played in the restoration. The PFGF also received a proclamation from Mayor Jerramiah Healy for their dedication to ensuring that Hudson City’s WWI soldiers continue to be remembered by Jersey City residents today.