On the Anniversary of Iwo Jima

On the anniversary of the battle of Iwo Jima, I want to honor the men from Belleville and Nutley who perished in the Pacific Theater in World War II.

Here, from the news reports of the day.

Buccino helps dedicate street to fallen Belleville soldier

Local historian Anthony Buccino joined family members and friends of Donald Baron Saunders to honor the fallen soldier with his name on the street sign where he lived. to Sept. 19, 2015

     We are here today to honor Pfc. Donald Saunders, a young man from this town, Belleville, from this street, High Street, from that house who answered his country’s call in a difficult time.

Pfc. Donald Saunders volunteered to go to South Vietnam with the Marines. He was killed in action while unselfishly exposing himself to the intense incoming fire of the enemy.
He loved his family. He loved his hometown. He loved his fellow Marines. He loved his country.

Here, today, we post this marker, this memorial to one of Belleville’s best, Belleville’s bravest.

We salute you, Pfc. Donald Baron Saunders.

We will not forget you or the 158 other Belleville sons who paid for our freedom with your lives.

Semper fi.

For more information, click here. 

Remembering the Soldier Named Above the Street Sign

I first came across Gary Formica in the early 1990s. I was walking my yellow Lab in a nearby neighborhood, and the second sign above the street sign caught my eye.

Gary P. Formica, SP4 A-KIA 10-4-70 Vietnam

I never knew him, never even heard of him before coming across this memorial sign. Nearly 25 years on, there wasn't much thought given to a stranger who died long ago in a place far away.

And yet, I was drawn to this place, to this corner, or across the street from it where I stood long gazing at the stranger's name. My dog would realize we weren't going anywhere and settle in the grass. Did Gary live in this corner house? This house where their dog barks at strangers until it realizes we aren't here to disturb the peace.

I'd wonder if his parents lived here still. What did they think when then went outside and saw their son's name on a corner sign. Did he have brothers and sisters and their children who never met him?

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