WILDWOOD — City Commissioners unanimously decided Wednesday, Jan. 28 to OK a permanent Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in Columbus Park.
Vince DePrinzio, treasurer of the Vietnam Veterans of America Wildwood Chapter 955, is working with his group as well as the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts to bring a permanent wall after the success of the “The Wall That Heals,” a half-scale rep-lica of the original Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., that traveled to the city in July.
The endeavor holds personal significance to DePrinzio, because it was his cousin’s, Greg Mazzotta, dream to have a enduring memorial in the city. Mazzotta, former president of the local VVA chapter, passed away in September 2008.
Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr. said that it would be an honor to “take a piece of our town to let the wall exist.”
The wall will be placed in Columbus Park, which sits across from the Wildwoods Convention Center on Ocean Avenue.
Troiano said the land is currently dedicated to the Sons of Italy, which would be honored to have the memorial there.
Troiano also asked the city engineers, Remington Vernick & Walberg, to come up with a design for the memorial wall’s placement at no cost to the city.
The commission must take the formal step of deed-restricting the land to allow for the permanent display. City Clerk Christopher Wood said the ordinance would be introduced at the next regular meeting, Feb. 18.
DePrinzio said that having a permanent wall here would also give Wildwood unique status.
“No city or borough in New Jersey has a wall that 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. ”
He also added that the wall is not connected to the Forgotten Warriors Vietnam Museum at the Cape May Airport in Lower Township, which opened in July 2008. That museum, founded by Tom Collins, of North Cape May, is home to a collection dedicated to Vietnam veterans.
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 names 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 approximately $150,000 including the frame.
DePrinzio said that it would take about 128 days to build the frames and about 2 months to etch the panels.
To realize Mazzotta’s dream, DePrinzio said that the local VVA, American Legion and VFW posts have “serious” fundraising to do.
On Feb 7, the American Legion Post at 4200 Atlantic Avenue will be installing a large thermometer to keep the town aware of their fundraising progress.
Their first event is set for that same evening from 7 till 10 p.m. at the Bolero Resort. Tickets are avail-able at in Wildwood or by contacting DePrinzio at 609-780-3872.
Contact Suit at: (609) 886-8600 ext. 25 or lsuit@cmcherald.com
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