Delaware River & Bay Authority to renovate War Memorial Monument
Adding names of those killed in Vietnam, subsequent conflicts
NEW CASTLE — The Delaware River & Bay Authority's War Memorial Monument at the Veterans Memorial Park will undergo an extensive renovation, beginning around June 1.
The monument, adjacent to the Delaware Memorial Bridge, will have its underlying concrete structures replaced, as well as undergo an expansion of the wall’s names to include service members from New Jersey and Delaware who died in conflicts from World War II to the present.
The cost of the work is approximately $5 million.
The authority seeks the public’s assistance to ensure that all eligible individuals are properly represented on the new wall.
At veteransmemorialpark.us, there is a document containing the names of those lost during Vietnam and later conflicts. Use the link “War Memorial Restoration.” If any name has been omitted or misspelled, use the feedback link to submit corrections or additions.
All reviews and submissions must be received by June 30 to ensure ample time to produce the metal plaques.
The memorial’s renovation plan includes reintroducing the circular plaza design and increasing the plaza area and the lawn, plus the expansion of the monument itself to display nearly 20,000 names from WWII and subsequent wars on metal plaques.
Existing flagpoles will be replaced, adding one for the Space Force. And the reflecting pool will be removed to accommodate space for programming.
Meantime, the annual Veterans Day service will take place as scheduled Nov. 11. Construction will be suspended around Oct. 25 to allow for the event’s preparation.
During this work, the public will not be able to access portions of the grounds. The project should be completed in mid-May 2025.
Originally constructed in 1955, the War Memorial Monument currently pays tribute to soldiers from New Jersey and Delaware who gave the ultimate sacrifice in World War II and the Korean War.
