Jersey Shore Magazine

J e r s e y s h o r e • S p r i n g 2 0 1 7 58 September 2015. Designed by Hanlon Sculpture Studios, the monument includes three statues of family mem- bers along a center monument. The NJVVMF is in the early stages of upgrading the Museum & Educa- tional Center by adding an annex onto the building, as they have out- grown their current space. Taggart said, "We don't have enough room for our collection storage. This gener- ation is starting to get where they are passing on or downsizing, and their stuff needs a place to live. The annex is going to be crucial for programming and collection storage space so we can function more professionally." Linderman added that, along with the annex, the NJVVMF is also looking to expand their outdoor display of military equipment as well. "We're working with the New Jersey Department of Military and Veteran Affairs to relocate some of their static pieces, like maybe an armored personnel carrier, to outside the Museum & Educational Center. Different equipment such as an M48 tank, or a 105 howitzer, can create a new display that is educational, inter- active, and historical," he said. Many people are under the false impression that the Memorial and Museum are New Jersey state entities that receive state funding. They are not. "We are 100% self-sustained, The U.S. War Dog Memorial honors our nation's war dogs and their handlers. Jill Ocone always looking for families or friends to come forward with more of a per- sonal perspective of the person, or a photograph, because we want to tell the most complete story about them. It's harder to remember somebody when you don't know anything about them, and these soldiers deserve to have their stories preserved and told for generations." The NJVVMF's website has a list of more than two hundred veterans who are missing photographs and stories and is seek- ing people to contribute information to help preserve these legacies. One of the cornerstones of the Museum & Educational Center is found outside, and you can't miss it: a restored 1964 Bell UH-1D Huey helicopter. With over nine mil- lion hours of flight time, the Huey became the symbol of the United States combat forces in Vietnam and has become an iconic image of the Vietnam Era. In 2013, a group of veteran volunteers, many of them helicopter pilots during the Vietnam era, began the Operation Huey Restoration Project. It was dedicated in May 2014. With their own Huey stories to share, their work now leaves a lasting impression on all visitors. Four additional memorials are also located on the grounds of the Museum & Educational Center. The Purple Heart Memorial, dedicated in 2010, honors the recipients of the nation's oldest military decora- tion. The U.S. War Dog Memorial was dedicated on 2006 and honors our nation's war dogs and their handlers—past, present, and future. For this memorial, sculptor Bruce Lindsay created a bronze statue of a kneeling soldier and his dog set on a granite base. The Women Veterans Meditation Garden was dedicated in 2001 as a tribute to the civilian and military women who served during the Vietnam Era through today. The Garden honors Captain Eleanor Alexander, who is the only woman honored on the memorial. The newest memorial is the New Jersey Gold Star Family Monument, which was dedicated in and people don't realize that, which is partly why we strive so hard to remain relevant because we have to. We have to make sure the names on the wall don't get forgotten, and that the stories are told," Taggart said. Donations, no matter how large or how small, are always welcome. A visit to the New Jersey Vietnam Veteran's Memorial and the Vietnam Era Museum & Educational Center, along with the other memorials on site, will have a lasting impact, as the stories told by the names, faces, and souls educate and inspire. u The New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial and the Vietnam Era Museum & Educational Center are located at 1 Memorial Lane in Holmdel next to the PNC Bank Arts Center. For more information, call (732) 335-0033 or email: info@ njvvmf.org. Or visit: www.njvvmf.org; Facebook: www.facebook.com/NJVVMF; Twitter: @njvvmf. The Memorial is open 24/7/365 and admission is free. Guided tours by Vietnam veterans are available by request on the first Saturday of each month at 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM. There are picnic tables on the grounds. The Museum & Educational Center is open Tues. - Sat. 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM and by appointment. Admission: adults $7.; seniors and students: $5.; children under twelve, veterans, and active duty soldiers are admitted free. Group tours, school tours and programs, and educator workshops are available. A variety of merchandise is for sale in the gift shop located in the lobby area. The Center's multi-purpose room is used for lectures, teleconferencing, and pre- sentations to visiting groups and schools. The room, as well as other areas of the museum and grounds, is available to rent for private, corporate, professional, and community events. How You Can Help: The NJVVMF relies on the generosity of people like you to keep both the Memorial and Museum & Educational Center open to everyone who wants to visit—including thousands of school children who come each year. You can become a member of the NJVVMF or contribute a one-time donation on their website (www.njvvmf.org). Volunteers are also needed to help with the front desk and NJVVMF events. Please call or visit the web- site for more information. JERSEY SHORE PROFILE THEIR STORIES ARE NOT SILENT, continued from page 57

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