‘Purple Heart County’ Signs Going Up In Watchung

WATCHUNG, NJ — As the only county in New Jersey to be given the “Purple Heart County” designation by the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Somerset County has erected signs in local towns including in Watchung.

A dedication ceremony was held on Oct. 11 for the new “Purple Heart County” signs, which have been posted in six Somerset County municipalities: Branchburg, Franklin, Hillsborough, Peapack-Gladstone, Somerville and Watchung. Signs will be posted at other locations throughout the county as well.

Hillsborough Township is one of only two municipalities in New Jersey to be named a “Purple Heart City.” The other is North Hanover in Burlington County.

“The Purple Heart Cities and Counties are part of the nationwide Purple Heart Trail of signs that pay tribute to our brave military personnel who have been wounded or killed in action,” Somerset County Freeholder Director Patricia Walsh said. “They left their homes and their families and went to war to fight for the freedoms we so often take for granted.”

Following are the current sign locations:

BRANCHBURG

• Route 22 East – near County Line Road

FRANKLIN

• Easton Avenue northbound – north of Franklin Boulevard

HILLSBOROUGH

• Amwell Road eastbound – east of Hockenbury Road

PEAPACK-GLADSTONE

• Old Chester Road – at the county border

SOMERVILLE

• Parking deck entrance
• Grove & High Streets
• Mechanic & High Streets
• Veterans Memorial Plaza – Grove Street
• Southwest corner of Admin. Building – Grove Street

WATCHUNG

• Valley Road – at the county border

(Photo provided: Attending the dedication ceremony for the Purple Heart County signs in Somerset County are, left to right, county Veterans Services Director Peter Niemiec; Freeholder Brian Levine; Sheriff Frank Provenzano; Freeholder Mark Caliguire; Freeholder Deputy Director Peter Palmer; MOPH Chapter 27 member Joe Piazza; Freeholder Patrick Scaglione; MOPH Chapter 27 members Tony DelRocco and Ted Dima; Freeholder Director Patricia Walsh; and Ken Meaney, Commander Joe Kordzikowski, Lenny Jackson; Jim Lindsay and Ed Mendoza of MOPH Chapter 27.)

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