Veterans Day honors and remembers veterans for their contribution towards strengthening national security and maintaining the future of our country. Previously known as “Armistice Day” to honor the veterans of World War II, Congress amended the act originally passed in 1938 by replacing “Armistice” with “Veterans” to honor all soldiers that served in the U.S. military. With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, November 11 became a day to honor all veterans who have served or are currently serving the country.
Veterans Day was celebrated at Elysian Park with the presence of many Hoboken citizens and Mayor Ravi Bhalla, who spoke at the ceremony. Other speakers included Hoboken City Clerk Jimmy Farina, Monsignor Paul Bochicchio, and Hudson County Freeholder Anthony Romano. Hoboken’s police and fire honor guards were also present at the ceremony. This year’s ceremony was similar to past years, with the addition of social distancing protocols and mandatory face masks for all attendees.
Elysian Park, located a few blocks from Stevens, displays an 8-foot bronze sculpture depicting soldiers being welcomed in triumph. This monument, named “Embarkation and Debarkation,” was designed by Charles Henry Niehaus in memory of World War I veterans. The sculpture itself stands on a granite plinth with two sidepieces to resemble a ship. The monument also displays the names of about 90 fallen soldiers at the base of the monument.
The entire city of Hoboken played a significant and pivotal role in World War I as the “port of embarkation” for many American soldiers. After the war was declared, all the docks in Hoboken were converted to serve as a departure port for the American Expeditionary Force. Between 1917 and 1918, 936 voyages were made from Hoboken to Europe and approximately two million soldiers passed through the Hoboken port.
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