Veteran's Monument Committee plans garden in Newton

Newton — Anyone who has visited the Sussex County Veterans Monument in Newton Square recently may have noticed the beginnings of a garden that will surround the monument and honor the six branches of the military: Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine. Through the ongoing efforts of the Veterans Monument Committee, plans for the garden are complete with color insignias for each branch of the service mounted on granite. Each of six sections of the garden will be color-coordinated to the colors of the particular branch of the service with bulbs planted this fall, as well as annuals and perennials, to be planted next spring. Several donors have made it possible: Frank Allocca of Intercar Mercedes, Newton, donated a $1,000 challenge grant. His challenge was matched by Elizabethtown Gas and coordinated by Kevin Lynott of Sparta, director of government relations for Elizabethtown Gas. John Matthews of Hinckley Motors, administrator of the Deacon Sisters Liver Fund, donated $250. The funds, plus funding made available through donations for the monument and its maintenance, will be used to purchase the granite markers and insignias, as well as planting bulbs, annuals and perennials. The job of planting and maintenance of the gardens will be orchestrated and completed by participants in the Sussex County Master Gardener Program, under the direction of Brian Olesak, agricultural program associate for the Sussex County Rutgers Cooperative Research & Extension. The monument, erected in 2005 through all-volunteer efforts and donations, continues to be a focus for memorial services and commemorations. Newton VFW Post 5360 recently held a Veteran’s Day memorial service, which included the ringing of the bell for Sussex County servicemen and women. A memorial wreath is placed on the monument by the committee each Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day. For more information on the monument fund and the gardens e-mail Freeholder Susan Zellman at susan@zellman.us.