Legacy Of Service: South Brunswick To Honor 8 Scurato Brothers

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — Luigi and Santola Scurato came from Italy to Ellis Island in the early 1900s – Luigi in 1906 and Santola in 1914. In 1916, the couple married and got on a train to New Jersey.

“Monmouth Junction was the last stop on the train and they got down here. And that’s pretty much the start of the family on South Brunswick,” said Sal Scurato, their grandson.

But what’s most unique about the Scurato family is that they gave the county eight sons to serve. Luigi and Santola had 11 children and eight sons went off to serve the country during World War II and the Korean War.

It’s rare for eight members of a single family to find themselves in active service during times of war, but South Brunswick’s Scurato family is one such.

To honor their legacy of service, the Township will hold a Veteran Street Sign Dedication Ceremony for all eight brothers on Saturday - Anthony, Salvatore, Joseph, Donald, Thomas, Louis, Blase and Frank Scurato.

The brothers served in the Army, Navy and Marines.

Sal, the only son of Salvatore Scurato, fondly remembers his uncles and father.

“All the uncles and aunts were unbelievably loving people with high moral content. I think that’s what made them serve the country,” Sal said.

“They were all different ages. My father was the oldest and he was in World War II. His other brothers carried on to the Korean War.”

According to Sal, his grandfather instilled a deep love for the country in his children.

“My grandfather worked in the railroads and got a piece of land in Monmouth Junction. He and my grandmother had a natural love for the land they migrated to and that was picked up by their children,” Sal said.

“The brothers also reacted naturally to what was happening around the world and felt it their duty to respond.”

The family has deep roots in South Brunswick - generations of the Scuratos living here and going through the school system.

“During my father’s time, we didn’t have the South Brunswick School District. They had to go to Jamesburg. But the next generation, my cousins and I, went through the school system. I was also a teacher at the school district and retired in 2011,” Sal said.

Later in life, many of the siblings went to live in other towns like East Brunswick, South River and Franklin Park, but their roots remain firmly in South Brunswick.

Sal's parents even met and married at the local St. Cecilia’s Church.

To celebrate the honor bestowed upon the eight brothers, all their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will be attending the ceremony on Saturday.

The event will take place at the intersection of Kingston Lane and Stanley Avenue in Monmouth Junction.

By adding the names of local wartime veterans to public street signs, the township hopes to promote public awareness of these individuals and to show appreciation for their outstanding contributions and distinguished service to the country.

"Young men like the Scurato brothers represent a generation who grew up in quiet places, like Monmouth Junction. When world events called upon them to defend the ideals of the Nation in places far from home, they stepped forward and served well and honorably,” Mayor Charlie Carley said in a statement. “The memory of the Scurato brothers serves as a touchstone for our town.”

Each member of the Scurato family is aware of the rich family legacy and the responsibility of passing it on to future generations.

“Everybody is so proud of the family. We are all cut out from the same cloth and do our best to educate the younger generation of what their great grandparents did,” Sal said.

“I recently visited the WWII monument in Washington D.C. with my granddaughters. There they learned about the legacy of their great grandfather and his brothers.”

Over 80 Scurato family members will be attending the event and after the ceremony, they will gather at their family home for a small reunion and a “big Italian lunch.”

“We the Scurato children stood on the shoulders of our loving parents who lead us to become loving, empathetic and involved in our communities. We treasure “la familia” their legacy to us and ours,” Sal said.

On behalf of his cousins and family, Sal thanked the Mayor and community for recognizing the contribution of his father and uncles.

“The Mayor’s statement captures what our family is about. The clarity of his statement communicated so effectively the service of my father and uncles and their love for South Brunswick,” Sal said.

He recalls his grandfather planting tomatoes and grapes in his home garden in Monmouth Junction. “It's like Luigi was laying down the roots of our family in that garden,” Sal said.

"South Brunswick afforded them the opportunity to have wonderful families. It’s just a great place to live.”

Here is more about each Scurato brother:

• Anthony Scurato enlisted into the United States Army during World War II, stationed in the Middle East until his Honorable discharge in October of 1945, receiving the Lapel Button and Army Service Ribbon.
• Salvatore Scurato enlisted into the United States Army during World War II serving overseas in Hawaii and the Marshall Islands. He was honorably discharged in August 1945 receiving the American Defense Service Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal and the 753rd AAA Gun Battalion Medal.
• Joseph Scurato enlisted into the United States Navy during World War II stationed aboard the USS Moffet, a destroyer doing patrol duty in the South Atlantic and in the Mediterranean Sea, until the ship was decommissioned in February, 1946.
• Donald Scurato enlisted into the United States Army during World War II serving in the Medical Corps. He worked in neurotics and accompanied wounded veterans to hospitals all over the United States. He was honorably discharged with a rating of Staff Sergeant.
• Thomas Scurato enlisted into the United States Army during World War II and received three battle stars for combat service. He served until his Honorable discharge with a rank of Corporal in April of 1946 receiving the American Campaign Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal (AGCM), and the WWII Victory Medal.
• Louis Scurato enlisted into the United States Marines during World War II and was sent to the Hawaiian Islands and Guam. He was a member of the Military Police, receiving the Rifle Marksmanship Badge. He served until his Honorable discharge as Private First Class in August 1946.
• Blase Scurato enlisted into the United States Army during the Korean War, serving six months in Japan until his Honorable discharge as Private First Class in January, 1953.
• Frank Scurato enlisted into the United States Navy during the Korean War and was stationed on the USS Wright in Europe before being transferred to the Pacific. He was Honorably Discharged in March 1955, receiving the Korean Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal.

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