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Honoring our Fallen Heroes
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HAWTHORNE, N.J. -- The Borough of Hawthorne announced plans this year to honor four men who died in military service by dedicating street signs in their names as part of a program called Operation Fallen Hero.
Since the program to recognize the sacrifice of servicemen from Hawthorne who died during World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War started by Mayor Richard S. Goldberg in 2011, 28 street signs have been dedicated. This year's dedications would bring the total to 32
“It brings a great sense of closure for the family and friends,” said Goldberg, who was encouraged by the response from people who attended the first dedication in honor of Lance Cpl. William Dutchess, the first U.S. Marine from Hawthorne who was killed in Vietnam. “I think that in the Billy Dutchess case, his friends were getting older and they saw their own mortality. At the time they wanted to find a way to keep Billy alive. Because if they kept Billy alive, they kept themselves alive. But every soldier has a compelling story -- the sacrifices that they made. There were also two cousins that died in Korea. Some we’ve been able to dedicate on the day that they died.”
Paul Chepurko, the coordinator of Operation Fallen Hero Coordinator who wrote a self-published book in 2014 on the 76 fallen heroes from Hawthorne and North Haledon called “Small Town -- Big Sacrifice,” said the town has an order in which it roles out the dedications: priority goes to the heroes with surviving mothers and wives, followed by children, brothers and sisters, then nieces and nephews. (Daily Voice - South Passaic) |
Pvt. Theodore K. Wiech, U.S. Army Killed in Action: March 6, 1945 Home Address: 23 Elberon Ave. Sign Location: Elberon Avenue and May Street
Pfc. Bruce H. Mahnken, U.S. Army Air Force Died: Jan. 10, 1945 Home Address: 48 Franklin Ave. Sign Location: Franklin Avenue and May Street Attending: Sons Bruce Mahnken Jr. and Bert Mahnken
Pvt. Albert N. Riggenbach, U.S. Army Killed in Action: Sept. 9, 1944 Home Address: 82 Mountain Ave. Sign Location: Mountain Avenue Attending: Sisters Helen Diebold and Alice Marion, as well as nieces and nephews
Technical Sgt. Delmar E. Smith, U.S. Army Air Force Killed in Action: Aug. 14, 1943 Home Address: 49 Union Ave. Sign Location: Union Street and Woodside Avenue
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