Wall that Heals Set for Columbus Park

WILDWOOD — City Commissioners authorized the installation of a permanent Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in Columbus Park on Wednesday March 11.
The wall will be placed in Columbus Park, which sits across from the Wildwoods Convention Center on Ocean Avenue.
Commissioner Gary DeMarzo abstained from voting on the ordinance because he wanted to see specific details on the project, such as a schematic drawing, lighting details and a defined look before he would vote for it.
Vince DePrinzio, treasurer of the Vietnam Veterans of America Wildwood Chapter 955, who is working with his group as well as the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts to bring the permanent wall, told DeMarzo that the wall is 235 feet long, measuring 5 feet tall at its highest point and 8 inches at its lowest point.
DePrinzio said project had been brought before commissioners at least three times since September 2008. He questioned why DeMarzo hadn’t contacted him if he had questions.
DeMarzo responded that he wasn’t against the wall, but told DePrinzio that the project lacked the proper paperwork.
“You don’t build a house and then get house plans,” DeMarzo said.
“When the new convention center came in, we didn’t have an exact idea of where it was going, but a lot of people came together and signed a petition in favor of it because they thought it was a good thing. I think this [the wall] is a great thing,” Commissioner Bill Davenport said.
“You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know how this is going to look,” said Mayor Ernie Troiano.
“It’s only good. There’s nothing bad about it,” Troiano added.
DePrinzio said the DeMarzo might have a better idea of what the project would look at if he had been more involved with “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.
DePrinzio further accussed DeMarzo of not attending community functions or supporting local events.
DeMarzo said that DePrinzio’s comments were “unfair” and said that he goes to many events. He noted that even though he was in favor of the project it was not up to the mayor or Commissioner Bill Davenport, who have long supported the memorial, to give away city property.
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.
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. ”
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.
Troiano and Davenport voted to pass the resolution to put the wall in Columbus Park saying they didn’t need to see plans before hand. DeMarzo abstained from the vote.
Contact Suit at: (609) 886-8600 ext. 25 or lsuit@cmcherald.com