BOONTON — The Veteran’s Banner Committee is reaching out to the community for help in honoring local heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. These brave men, many of whom attended Boonton High School, which included students from Boonton, Montville, Boonton Township, Parsippany, and Mountain Lakes, will soon be commemorated with banners throughout the town. However, before the banners can be finalized, the committee needs assistance in locating photos and branch of service information for the following men:
From World War I: Abraham W. Beddow, Raymond Bell, Joseph P. Bowden, George W. Buis, Thomas Byard, John B. Castmore, Carl E. Eckstrand, Harold D. Hildebrant, Herbert A. Hoagland, Stephen Krisanda, and Thomas Taylor.
From World War II: Jerome L. Arnov, Francis Bednar, Andrew H. Bladt, Roy C. Busse, Harold H. Daly, Herbert Darque, Arthur C. Davenport Jr., Robert J. Decker, Thomas DiCenzo, William Dodds, William Donos, Andrew J. Dziorny Jr., Richard B. English, Fred B. Estler, Donald Foley, David Healion, John Hoover, Joseph R. Hopkins, Louis Jacobus, Richard P. Kelly, Clarence H. McCain, Joseph L. McDermott, Gilbert A. Naughton, Chester Nycz, Charles P. Ofsonka, Joseph V. Pavliak, James Pazinich, Sol Petroff, Archie Piscitello, Wilbur A. Randolph, Frederick K. Rieve, Robeson Sherred, John E. Taylor, Wallace B. Thomas, Lowell Tuhle, Arumund R. Utne, Robert W. VanFleet, Joseph A. Zayac Jr., and Joseph J. Zibura.
If you have any information or leads, please contact Janine at jolley@boonton.org as soon as possible. These men, including two Medal of Honor recipients, were killed in action, and their memory deserves to be preserved with the utmost respect. Let’s work together to ensure their bravery and sacrifice are never forgotten. Thank you!
The Veterans Banner Program will be implemented in two phases. In phase I, which began May 2024, fundraising will take place for the 73 veterans named on the Town Hall Veteran’s Memorial monument; these are service members killed in action. Thanks to the generous donations received as of August 1, 2024, approximately half the funds needed for Phase I have been raised.
Your donation will help us meet our goal of funding all 73 banners of Boonton veterans killed in action during Phase I. Once Phase I is complete, Phase II will focus on honoring additional past and current veterans. More details about Phase II will be released as Phase I funding goals are met. To complete Phase I, we need your help.
Your generous donations help us honor and recognize the service of our local veterans. Contributions go towards the production, installation, and maintenance of the banners. Thank you for your support! Here are the ways you can donate:
1. By mail: via check. Make checks payable to The Town of Boonton, add your phone number in the memo line, and mail to:
100 Washington Street
Boonton, NJ 07005
Attention: Veteran’s Banners Program
2. Online: Via electronic check or credit card by following the link to the Online Payment Portal.
The platform charges $1.95 for electronic check payments and a 2.5% convenience fee for credit card payments.
3. In-person: Via check or cash, during business hours (8:30-4:00 pm M-F) in person at Town Hall.
