MEMORIAL DAY 1949

                                       MEMORIAL DAY 1949

                                                 BY

                                      JACK GOUDSWARD

       On this Memorial Day as we stand and watch the parade and enjoy the speeches our thoughts turn to the ones who died to keep us free.  This Memorial Day marks the sixty-forth anniversary of the dedication of the second war memorial in the town. The location was next to the then town hall on Pulis Avenue. It is now the Board of Education Building. The first memorial was known as the Masker Memorial and was on High Mountain Road across the street from the then Crystal Lake Inn. This location is now an on ramp for Rt. 287.

      Mrs. Arthur C. Totten, former chairman of the Servicemen’s Committee of Franklin Lakes, gave the dedication speech prior to the unveiling of the bronze plaque. This plaque contains all the names of the service personal who served from the town in World War I and World War II.  She closed her speech with the line “God gave us victory and may He in his infinite goodness grant us peace”. Mayor Samuel Bowers accepted the plaque for all the service men and women of the town. He also spoke of the faithful work of Mrs. C.H. Bush as a member of the Servicemen’s Committee when it was in existence.

       At the conclusion of this service all the all organizations of the town along with the Wyckoff Fire Department and Wyckoff Boy Scouts marched to the Masker Memorial in Crystal Lake. At this memorial William W. Bower made the principal address. He was followed by Mayor Samuel Bowers who gave a short address. Reverend R. Wesley Smith gave the invocation and benediction. A number of selections were played by the Hawthorn Band and the Franklin Lakes Methodist Church Choir under the direction of Mrs. Vivian Rodgers sang a hymn. They were accompanied on piano by Jacob Smith. The Pledge of Allegiance was said and a rifle salute was given by members of the Wyckoff American Legion.  Finally flowers were placed on the memorial. This concluded the Memorial Day Celebration of 1949.