D R G Artist Fiorentino WWII hero Lt. Col. Vaucher Bridgewater

Portrait Honors WWII Aviator and Historic Land Preservation Activist

Flemington, NJ – During the February 11 Bridgewater Township Council meeting, D&R Greenway Land Trust President & CEO Linda Mead and artist James Fiorentino paid tribute to the life, legacy and the historic land preservation efforts of Lt. Col. Vaucher. Fiorentino also shared with the Bridgewater community Vaucher’s portrait, which he completed and had shared with the 102 year-old WWII veteran and family just days before his recent passing.

“It was an honor to have painted Lt. Col Bob Vaucher and a privilege to have met him and his family on multiple occasions; to have heard his amazing life stories firsthand,” says Fiorentino, who has been painting his heroes since he was a teenager. At the age of 15 years, his portrait of Reggie Jackson was featured in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum; Fiorentino’s painting of Roberto Clemente remains in the museum’s permanent collection

Fiorentino describes the process of meeting and painting Lt. Col. Vaucher as “... a way to share his story and preserve his legacy. To have met Bob through D & R Greenway and the preservation of the Steele’s Gap property very special. My hope is that this portrait reflects Bob’s Hall of Fame military career of service to our country, his life-long commitment to preserving this land and our history...”

Vaucher had flown 117 WWII combat missions. He served as Mission Commander of the 525 B-29 Show of Force over battleship USS Missouri during the Japanese surrender - September 2, 1945. Vaucher was ‘Honorary Air Boss’ of the Arsenal of Democracy Flyover over the WWII Memorial, Washington, D.C., on the 75th Anniversary of Victory-in-Europe Day, celebration on May 8, 2020.

It was the personal mission of Lt. Col. Vaucher to preserve the Bridgewater land, known locally as the “Wemple Estate.” The 36-acre site includes a historic spring and the landmark Steele Tavern, mentioned in the letters of George Washington. It has been permanently preserved through a partnership including Bridgewater Township, its residents, Somerset County, the Crossroads of the American Revolution and D&R Greenway Land Trust, and has been renamed as the “Vaucher Revolutionary Preserve at Steele’s Gap.

“Over my years in land preservation, I've met many heroes,” reports Linda Mead, D&R Greenway Land Trust President & CEO. “Bob Vaucher is at the top of that list. Throughout his life, Bob selflessly gave of himself for the betterment of his community. Bob and his family were especially pleased to look across from their home to see the new sign that reads: ’Vaucher Revolutionary Preserve at Steele's Gap.’” Click to watch/listen here.

# # #