New Jersey Students Remember: World War I Centennial Monument Documentation Project 2017

by Nancy Grant, teacher, Villa Walsh Academy, Morristown

 World War I cracked open the door to the modern era, and for better or for worse, the world rushed in.  As we mark the centennial of US participation in The Great War (1917- 2017), it is time for all Americans, especially young people, to learn about what some have called “the forgotten war” and to honor those who gave their lives in the fight for freedom.

As a teacher, I am anxious for my students to recognize that New Jersey played an important role in the Allied victory. From New Jersey ports went vital supplies. From its communities came financial support. From its factories came industrial might, and from its towns, cities, and farms came “doughboys”, young men who became soldiers. Their vigor and their very numbers turned the tide of this devastating conflict and indeed made the “world safe for democracy”.

To enhance my students’ understanding of America’s role in The Great War and to heighten their appreciation for the great personal sacrifice made by so many, I recently offered an extra credit assignment. The idea stemmed from a connection my family has to one particular “doughboy”, a great uncle whose foot locker from World War I we inherited. Its contents are fascinating and “personalized the war” for me so much that I went looking in another part of the state for the World War I monument in his hometown. To “personalize” the war for my students, I challenged then to locate and evaluate monuments in their local communities.  The information they gained and photos they took were put together on posters which are now on display for our entire school community to see and appreciate.

Since I teach in a regional school, I was thrilled that students investigated sites from a large geographic area. They found that some communities dedicated areas exclusively to World War I remembrance. Morristown, for example, offers a stunning cenotaph (empty tomb) and adjacent reflecting pool at the site of the Vail Mansion. Madison features an imposing bronze eagle with wings stretched upward. It sits atop lists of names of those who died in the conflict and as well as all who served in the war.  The Town of Dover boasts a doughboy, his arm raised and rifle in hand, standing atop a rock pyramid. Onto each of the 38 rocks is affixed a plaque containing the name of a soldier who died in the war. Other  communities like Bernardsville have a central location where monuments to several wars can be found. In addition, a unique site was recently dedicated as part of the All Veteran’s Memorial in Mount Olive’s Turkey Brook Park. It is a War Dog Memorial paying tribute to dogs from various wars who like Sgt. Stubby from World War  “earned their stripes” and deserve to be remembered for their service.

Students noted sites where development, especially highway construction, had isolated the monuments so that finding them was difficult. Some noted cases where greater care needed to be given to the surrounding area. Happily, they concluded that most sites have been cared for with great tenderness. In addition, the experience of investigation was both positive and eye opening for the students themselves. They learned the significance of monuments which they passed frequently but about which they knew nothing. They also took time to read markers to which they had never paid attention before.  Doing so offered great perspective.

The number of New Jersey boys who lost their lives as a result of World War I is over 3,000. These losses were deeply felt in communities both large and small, and especially in the hearts of the loved ones these soldiers left behind.  Over 160 monuments have been constructed  across the state in hopes the sacrifices of these young men will not be forgotten. It is my hope that the work that my students did on these projects revitalized and paid tribute to the memory of these soldiers who lived 100 years ago.

Posted September 5, 2017