Press Release

SOUTH AMBOY – Each Memorial Day weekend the dedicated members of the Luke A. Lovely American Legion Post #62 gather to remember the honored dead and celebrate their service.  This year the gathering took on a new dimension as City officials gathered on Bordentown Avenue to break ground on the new Veteran’s Plaza.

Over two years ago the estate of Lillian Applegate contacted Mayor Henry with the intent of donating the former site of their family operated gas station to the City for their use.  “I could not think of a better way to honor our veterans than to provide them with a prominent public gathering spot to commemorate the sacrifice of all from South Amboy who served” said Mayor Fred Henry. “

With a completion goal of Veterans Day 2022, the City will construct a plaza on the site with plaques representing all of the branches of the service, a purple heart monument, and a remembrance of each City resident who died in action.  The center piece of the plaza will be the soldier statue that has been in front of City Hall since at least 1970.  “It is my hope that this new memorial plaza will provide a permanent place for all veteran events as well as a place for quiet reflection for all who visit South Amboy”, said the Mayor.

Legionnaires have been selling commemorative pavers to add to the project and to support their efforts to build a new post home.  Information on the memorial paver project can be found on the City website at http://www.southamboynj.gov/News/View/1683/luke-a-lovely-american-legion-fundraiser.