WILDWOOD — Vince DePrinzio, treasurer of the Vietnam Veterans of America Wildwood Chapter 955, is working with his chapter and American Legion and VFW posts to bring a permanent Vietnam Veterans Memorial to Wildwood.
The endeavor holds personal significance to DePrinzio, because it was his cousin, Greg Mazzotta’s, dream to have an enduring memorial in the city. Mazzotta, former president of the local VVA chapter, passed away in September of this year.
“Greg made the first call to try and get the wall here,” said DePrinzio. “I just wish he was here, because this was his dream.”
DePrinzio said that his cousin started thinking about the possibility of a permanent wall after the success of the “The Wall That Heals,” a half-scale replica of the original Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., that traveled to the city in July.
“The volunteers at The Wall were just so impressed and so moved with how many people came out to see the wall, especially being in a tourist area,” said DePrinzio.
The group that brought the traveling wall in July would be the same group that manufactures the lasting wall, however the aluminum panels wouldn’t be able to last in the salt air. DePrinzio said that the city’s wall would be specially manufactured to withstand the weather here, panels with the names of 58,000 of those who lost their lives or went missing in the Vietnam War, laser-etched to the reflective graphite black panels.
The specialized panels come with a hefty cost. DePrinzio said that the price tag would be $75,000, not including the frame.
To realize Mazzotta’s dream, DePrinzio said that the local VVA, American Legion and VFW posts have “serious” fundraising to do.
Additionally on the group’s “to-do” list, is to finalize the wall’s location. DePrinzio credits Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr. and Commissioner Bill Davenport for their help in finding a permanent location for the wall.
The lengthy fundraising efforts ahead and the search for a location doesn’t worry DePrinzio.
“I know we’ll find a place and I know we’ll raise the money,” he said. “Everyone, all the veterans are so thrilled about it.”
Having a permanent wall here will also give Wildwood unique status.
“No city or borough in New Jersey has a wall the honors all the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam,”
said DePrinzio. “The wall in Holmdel only has the names from New Jersey.”
Even though DePrinzio is working toward his cousin’s dream, he said the wall isn’t just “for us.”
“It is for everyone who gave the ultimate sacrifice,” he said. “It is our motto not to let any veteran feel abandoned.”
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