A Picatinny World War II monument is moving to the interior of the installation to a location where plans are underway for a future monument park that will be accessible to all employees, family members, and visitors.
The Picatinny Arsenal World War II monument which had been placed out near the main gate for many years had been taken down nearly four year ago because of a traffic issue on Route 15. If you wanted to visit the memorial in its former location, you had to park at the installation’s Visitor’s Center and walk down toward the busy state highway, which was a safety concern.
In one of their final acts before departing the installation, former Picatinny Arsenal commanding general, Brig. Gen. William M. Boruff and former garrison commander, Lt. Col. Adam Woytowich, helped break ground for the monument at a new location on the installation on June 7.
“The monument was erected in 1946, soon after World War II,” Boruff told the small crowd that had gathered at the monument’s new location on Navy Hill.
“I’m glad that we are able to put it back up again and I know that my partner, Brig. Gen. Reim will be excited to unveil it when the time is right,” Boruff continued. “This monument is dedicated to the greatest generation.”
One of the onlookers in attendance was Brig. Gen. John T. Reim who succeeded Boruff as the Arsenal’s commanding general and Joint Program Executive Officer for Armaments and Ammunition. Reim and his command team will unveil a monument park that will house the World War II monument among other monuments currently situated in various areas throughout the installation.
Plans to safely move these structures to their new location are ongoing.
“A total of 4,700 Picatinny Arsenal employees were either commissioned or inducted into the Armed Services during the second world war,” Picatinny Arsenal historian Jeff Ranu stated at the groundbreaking. “90 of them gave their lives in defense of our nation.”
All 90 names are engraved into a bronze plaque that has been affixed to the monument. At the conclusion of the war, Picatinny Arsenal employees took up a collection to purchase the plaque. The stone which the plaque is mounted on was quarried from Picatinny Peak.
“The union of the two is symbolic of their sacrifices being a part of the heart of Picatinny forever,” Ranu continued. “It is fitting that it will be here once again as part of the community, for everyone to see.”
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