Passaic Vietnam Veterans Memorial Will Be Second-Largest In Nation, County Says

WAYNE, NJ — A multi-year effort to build a memorial wall in Passaic County for the American lives lost during the Vietnam War has come to fruition.

Officials said the 368-foot Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, which will be unveiled later this month, will be the second-largest in the nation behind the memorial in Washington, D.C. It will honor the more than 58,000 U.S. military personnel who lost their lives during the Vietnam War, including 83 natives of Passaic County.

Local veterans will join Passaic County commissioners and New Jersey legislators to unveil the wall on Saturday, May 18 at what officials expect to be a heavily-attended event.

The concrete wall is built at an angle, with the height at 2.5 feet on the ends and 9 feet in the middle. Construction has been ongoing the past several months, commissioners said.

A committee has been organizing the dedication and unveiling ceremony, including several Vietnam Veterans from Passaic County, county department members, and Commissioner Sandi Lazzara, who took a lead role in the effort. The conception for the Memorial Wall began several years ago.

"(Our veterans) have given the full measure of their devotion to their nation, and many have made the ultimate sacrifice for their fellow Americans," Lazzara said. "Their service is a powerful example for all, and it is our hope and goal that this memorial will serve as a tribute to their character, selflessness, and sacrifice."

The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. on May 18 at the Passaic County Public Safety Academy (300 Oldham Road, Wayne, NJ 07470).

Public parking will be available at the PCTVS campus (45 Reinhardt Road). Shuttle service will begin transporting to the ceremony site at 8 a.m. and handicapped buses will be available, the county said.

Attendees are advised to arrive early.

The planning committee members also released a statement on the significance of the memorial, saying:

The servicemembers who were lost in the Vietnam War must never be forgotten. This memorial wall will carry forward their legacies, and attest to our lasting gratitude. For our living veterans, this will be a place to reflect on their own service and that of their fallen comrades. For our veteran families, this will be a place to remember their loved ones. For our children, it will be a place to learn about duty, honor, and county – and what it means to be an American. And for all residents throughout Passaic County and our entire state, this will be a standing testament and a lasting reminder that service is at the heart of our society, so bravely exhibited by the courage and sacrifice of the fallen Vietnam War veterans, towards our shared purpose and responsibility to keep America peaceful, prosperous, and free.

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