“Not Paid, Don’t Put”:

UNION BEACH, N.J. – A routine Memorial Day tradition led to a shocking discovery for American Legion Post 321, exposing a heart-wrenching practice that leaves U.S. military Veterans buried in unmarked graves for years. Post 321 has since launched the Veterans Grave Marker Project, which has already restored honor and provided closure to the families of several forgotten heroes.

For years, members of Union Beach American Legion Post 321—including Legionnaires, the Sons of the American Legion, and the Auxiliary—have proudly walked the Shoreland Memorial Gardens cemetery in Hazlet NJ each Memorial Day weekend morning, placing over 450 American flags on Veterans’ graves. But in 2023, a simple request from the cemetery manager changed everything.

Bob LaCour, Chaplain of the Sons of the American Legion Squadron of Post 321, was asked to bring a few extra flags to the office to address any graves that might have been missed. He was directed to a side closet, where he found a post-it note attached to one of several Veteran’s grave stones leaning against the wall that read, “Not Paid”, meaning to not install the stone on the grave.

The discovery revealed a troubling reality: if a Veteran’s family could not afford the installation fee for a flat head or foot stone—a cost ranging from $1,000 to $1,600—the marker was left in a storage closet or maintenance basement, while the deceased Veteran reposed in an unmarked grave, difficult or impossible to be found by those who come to mourn and pay their respects. The grave markers are

provided free of charge by the Department of Veteran Affairs, but installation charges are determined

by the individual cemeteries.

Once this disturbing injustice was brought forward to the membership by LaCour, the response from

Post Commander William Gilkison and Squadron Commander Phil Ganz, as well as the membership, was fast and firm. The Legion Family of Post 321 was going to fix this.

Joe Pitch, a former Marine and member of Post 321 and the local band The Vinyl Renegades, offered to conduct a fundraiser. Together with the band’s followers and the Marcella Community Club in

Rockaway NJ, the event raised over $5,600 to fund the proper placement of the Veteran’s granite or

bronze grave markers at Shoreland Memorial Gardens in Hazlet.

The SONs of Post 321 organized solemn ceremonies to finally honor these Veterans and their families

that had long been denied. Services were held to provide much deserved closure for the families of:

● SSGT. Marie Freitag, USMC:WR, WWII, who passed away in 1993.

● Sgt. Jose Antonio Albino, U.S. Army, Vietnam Era, who passed away in 1995. (Ironically Sgt Albino was a Union Beach resident)

● Sr. Petty Officer Herman Lee Credle, a 22-year career U.S. Navy veteran, who passed away in 2020.

The last 2 ceremonies, held on July 19, drew an outpouring of support from the military community.

A sizable number of supporters turned out for the ceremonies, including many of the Veteran’s family members.

Legionnaires and Auxiliary and SONs from Union Beach Post 321 were in attendance. Auxiliary members supported the project through their President Kathy Pilon. Aux member Beth Sweeney assisted LaCour in making the three ceremonies successful, donating dozens of roses and buntings as well as providing narration during each ceremony.

Sq. 321 Adjutant Dominick Donatelli filmed and created solemn videos of each ceremony which are

on the Union Beach SAL Facebook page (facebook.com/UBSAL321) Copies were presented to each family.

“Tim’s Earth Angels” Foundation through the Tim Kelly Family provided a significant donation toward the project. (Tim Jr. was a Union Beach PD Officer who passed tragically)

Military Service members in attendance included N.W.S. Earle Base Commander Captain Kent D. Smith, accompanied by three Senior Petty Officers in dress whites.

Retired Navy Chief Richard Tate and 15 uniformed Navy JR. ROTC Cadets from Neptune High School

stood a walkout formation at attention for presentation and posting of the Colors, and folded the flag that was presented to the families. Post 321’s Honor Guard presented the Colors led by Commander Bill Gilikson and SAL Commander Phil Ganz. The Cadets also folded one of the presentation flags.

Also in attendance were highly decorated U.S. Army Green Beret Staff Sergeant Mark Antal, and two Army Captains, ROTC instructors from Fordham University.

The project gained significant support from Mark Otto, a USMC Veteran and Director of the United War Veterans Council. Retired Corporal Otto attended the ceremonies and created personalized framed presentation certificates for the families, and helped recruit other military members to participate. Mark Otto is also the coordinator for NYC Veterans Day Parade. He is a member of American Legion Post #1, Paris, France.

What began with a scribbled note in a cemetery closet has become a powerful mission for American

Legion Post 321, ensuring that no Veteran in their community is ever left buried without their grave

properly marked.

According to Bob LaCour, who spearheaded this project, “There is a large number of these unmarked

Veteran graves across New Jersey, and my research has revealed it’s in many communities nationwide!

Allowing us to expose this is greatly appreciated and necessary to bring just and honorable closure to

these Veterans and their families. The American Legion Family vows that no Veteran will be forgotten.”

He continued, “There are more Veterans buried without any head or foot stones, truly unmarked

graves, here in Monmouth County alone!

“I stress this since many folks think it’s just about the 4-5 inch medallions and flag holders seen alongside many properly marked Veterans’ graves.”

LaCour, a thirty-five year retired Battalion Chief from the Edison Division of Fire and proud son of a

former USMC; WR Mom (WWII: Camp Lejeune/Paris Island) is an active member and currently Chaplain of SAL Sq. 321. He said, “It’s in my wheelhouse and DNA to be involved in the community and I strongly feel this must be exposed and corrected. We can’t let this go!”

In Oct. 2024, Post 321, assisted by Commandant Mike Waluk of the USMC League of New Jersey,

and accompanied by 2 USMC Corporals, Veterans who served in Middle East, participated in USMC WWII SSGT. Marie Freitag’s ceremony at Shoreland Gardens.

*

The Sons of the American Legion is a program of the American Legion, the largest Veterans service

organization in the US. The Sons, also known as the S.A.L., was established in 1932 for the sons of

returning Veterans of World War One, later to include subsequent wars and conflicts. The S.A.L. mission statement is to honor the service and sacrifices of their parents and grandparents by working alongside

Veterans to promote and support the work of the American Legion. Nationally, over 400,000 Sons, as

well as over 10,000 Sons in New Jersey, continue to work on behalf of Veterans of all wars of the United States.

The Sons of the American Legion (S.A.L.) is a patriotic service organization that supports Veterans, their families, and communities. The S.A.L.’s purpose is to promote Americanism, support Veterans, and provide community service. They also focus on preserving the history and traditions of the American Legion, which was founded in 1919 by Veterans of World War One.