Coast Star - July 28, 2005 - Ceremony slated to mark end of WWII

Ceremony slated to
mark end of WWII

By Fred Carl

    On Saturday, Aug. 13 at 11a.m. a ceremony will be held at the Marconi Hotel, on Marconi Road, in Camp Evans in Wall to dedicate the site as the "World War II Living Memorial."

     This August will mark the 60th year since the end of the bloody conflict.

     Veterans are encouraged to attend to honor and stand for those veterans who can not attend. The site will be dedicated to honor veterans and help science-history education.

     Afterwards people can tour portions of the Marconi Hotel and grounds to see the work in progress to preserve the site.

   On display will be dozens of World War II anniversary posters and artifacts provided by the Old Wall Historical Society. Also on display will be dozens of photos showing the key role U.S. Army Signal Corps personnel and equipment from Fort Monmouth and Camp Evans played in winning World War II.

     In the history of World War II, Camp Evans holds an important place. Historians call World War II the "Radar War." They even call radar "the invention that saved democracy."

     Now is the time to dedicate this unique historic site as a World War II memorial to those who helped win the war with advanced electronics.

     By preserving the site, children can learn how science can benefit society in the very same buildings where World War II engineers and home-front veterans helped save democracy. Could there be a more fitting memorial?

     To honor the service of WorldWar II veterans, the Borough of Belmar, the Township of Wall and the County of Monmouth passed resolutions designating the Camp Evans Historic District as the World War II Living Memorial. Council member John Szeliga of Belmar, Wall Mayor Edward Thompson III and Freeholder Ted Narozanik sponsored the resolutions.

     Fort Monmouth was the center of World War II communications development and Camp Evanswas its secret radar laboratory. Army officers, civilian engineers, scientists, draftsmen, carpenters, metal workers, quality testers, documentation writers, patent specialists and thousands of home front veterans worked 10 to 12-hour days; six days a week to make sure Allied forces had the best radar and communications equipment possible.

The Coast Star July 28, 2005

The Coast Star
July 28, 2005