Wallkill Valley Chapter 1002:
The Northern New Jersey Veterans Memorial Cemetery

BY MARY BRUZZESE

Although many of New Jersey’s veterans live in the northern half of the state, there is no veterans cemetery servicing the northern counties. But shortly after he chartered Wallkill Valley Chapter 1002 in Vernon, New Jersey, with a handful of current members in 2008, Chapter President John Harrigan noticed a sign for the Orange County Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery while he was driving home from a trip to Upstate New York. He decided to check it out.

“Wow, we need something like this in North Jersey,” Harrigan told himself. He spoke with other members about his idea, and Chapter 1002 decided to spearhead an effort to establish a veterans cemetery in Sussex County, the chapter’s home.

Harrigan presented his idea to the Sussex County Board of Freeholders. “They said, ‘As long as you do all the work, you can have the cemetery.’ ”

While researching county records, chapter members found a 66-acre parcel of land along Rt. 94 in Sparta Township that had been given to the county in the 1980s with the stipulation that it be used for a police firing range or a veterans memorial park. The county freeholders gave the land to Chapter 1002 for one dollar.

The chapter formed a non-profit organization, the Northern New Jersey Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Inc. Although most board members were associated with Chapter 1002, other local VSOs quickly joined the effort.

Harrigan visited several veterans cemeteries to get an idea of the standard rules and qualifications for burial. It was decided that, although the cemetery will primarily service New Jersey’s northern counties, any veteran who resided in New Jersey when he or she began active duty or resided in the state at the time of death can be buried at the cemetery. Spouses and dependent children under eighteen may be buried there, too.

After the details were approved by the federal and state governments, including the New Jersey Cemetery Board and the Department of Environmental Protection, the Northern New Jersey Veterans Memorial Cemetery received the official go-ahead.

Word about the cemetery spread quickly. This was due in great part to Chapter 1002’s active presence in the community. The chapter has more than 150 members and some 50 associate members. “The associate members give us an even greater working force,” Harrigan said. “They come with a lot of ideas, and they give us a helping hand.”

One associate member, George Knorr, has his own local television show, George and Company. Knorr’s show covers a wide range of topics, including veterans issues. One show focused on the Northern New Jersey Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

“Knorr’s show helped us reach even further out,” Harrigan said, “since the show is out of a different county.” The cemetery quickly received support from local townships, politicians, businesses, organizations, and residents.

The cemetery will cost at least one million dollars. Much of that will be covered by the sale of burial sites. But Chapter 1002 and other local groups and residents have stepped up to help. The chapter held a silent auction and a golf outing that brought in some $15,000. County Clerk Jeff Parrott and his wife organized a cocktail party that raised another $15,000. Local restaurants have held “dining to donate” nights, with 10 percent of their proceeds going toward the cemetery. The Junior Woman’s Club of Sparta raised money through an art auction. Sussex County Technical School, located next to the cemetery site, held a duct tape fashion show that raised $14,000.
“We’ve had a lot of individual donations, too,” Harrigan said. “People hear about us, and they’ll send in maybe ten dollars. And those dollars add up.”

Many are working on the cemetery for little or no money. The architect offered to work at an extremely reduced rate. The surveyor, engineer, planner, and attorney have all volunteered their services.

The cemetery is now waiting for final approvals from the New Jersey Cemetery Board and Department of Environmental Protection. Then the group can begin clearing the land. Composed partly of wetlands, some thirty of the land’s sixty-six acres are suitable for burials. But almost all of the usable acres are wooded.

Clearing will be done in five phases. The cemetery will hold some fourteen thousand people, not counting cremains. Once phase one is cleared, burials can begin—probably by spring. In time, an office and visitor information building also will be constructed.

For more information, contact Chapter 1002 President John Harrigan at 973-271-2413 or harryo19@hotmail.com