How Could the City Let a Living War Memorial Die?

To The Editor:
How did the City of Wildwood let a living war memorial die?
If ever you have walked or driven by the tree-lined street at Burke and Atlantic avenues, that is where it is. Everybody thinks it is the entrance to the playground. It is called Memory Lane.
That whole city block is a memorial. It was built to honor and remember the 34 men from World War II, and also the 14 from the Korean and Vietnam War. They died for the freedoms that we now enjoy today.
Years ago, the Wildwood Civic Club must have taken care of it because their name is on the three plaques that have the names of the fallen.
At one time, trees must have been planted in memory of each of the men. Wooden boxes were built around the trees, and there were bronze name plates for all of them. Over the years two trees must have died, and were removed. They were not replaced. The wooden boxes are rotting away, and the bronze name plates are missing. They were replaced with wooden crosses with plates.
I am a Vietnam veteran, and proud to have served my country. It surprises me that the V.F.W.,
American Legion and Vietnam Veterans of America in Wildwood, all of which I am a member of in Philadelphia, have not seen this. Maybe they can look to the city for help in maintaining the memorial.
My sister and brother-in-law live in Wildwood, and love their neighborhood. They have volunteered to help get it back to what it should be. There is also a veteran who is cutting the grass, weeding, and putting new mulch around. They have painted the boxes around the trees, the sign, park benches, and the chain along Memory Lane. The crosses have a fresh coat of white paint, and the missing crosses have been replaced. All the boxes around the trees have fresh mulch in them. A small American flag was placed in each box.
What the memorial needs is this: Replant two new trees that are missing. Maybe a nursery would donate them in honor of all the veterans. The wooden boxes will have to be rebuilt. The lights are broken, and need to be fixed. There is a silhouette of a soldier kneeling in front of a cross. I saw one in front of the D.A.V. in Villas and on the front wall of the V.F.W. in Sea Isle. There is also one in front of the American Legion in Wildwood.
That would be a nice addition, plus a flag pole. One more thing: How about “Do Not Walk Your Dog” signs? I know it is not a cemetery, and nobody is buried there, but show some respect.
Veterans Day is only four months away. Maybe the mayor can lay a wreath, and have a small ceremony there before he goes to the new Vietnam and Korean War memorials. Both are beautiful, and the veterans and the City of Wildwood should be proud of them.
We honor, remember and thank the men and women coming home today from Iraq and Afghanistan, but let us not forget the veterans before them.
STEPHEN C. UCHNAIT
Philadelphia
(ED NOTE: Uchnait is president of the Vietnam Veterans of American Liberty Chapter 266.)