Category Archives: New Jersey

SAVE HISTORY: THE NATIONAL GUARD MILITIA MUSEUM OF NEW JERSEY NEEDS OUR HELP

The following is a portion of a press release I received today from the New Jersey Civil War Heritage Association.

SEA GIRT, N.J. (November 23, 2012) – The National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey in Sea Girt was quite literally swamped by Hurricane Sandy. Because of the destruction incurred, the museum has been closed until further notice.

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The museum professional staff is proactive, however, and with the help of dedicated volunteers and professional conservation and restoration experts from the New Jersey National Guard and New Jersey State Archives, the US Army’s Center for Military History, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and the Louisiana and Illinois National Guard museums, among others, is working hard on a “Jersey comeback.”

A new museum, bigger and better than the old quarters, is planned, and the museum will continue to expand its mission to narrate to New Jerseyans the stirring story of the state’s military history. The museum is in the process of requesting assistance in attaining those goals from both state and federal governments and private foundations. Initial response has been very encouraging.

In the short run, however, much still has to be accomplished in the stabilization and conservation of museum artifacts, and establishing an immediate cash flow to meet unexpected needs is paramount. Private donations to bridge this situation are needed and welcomed by the museum’s 501-3 (C) support organization. These tax-deductible contributions may be mailed to The National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey, 151 Eggerts Crossing Road, Lawrenceville, NJ, 07648. Checks should be made out to the NGMMNJ and be marked for “disaster relief.”

History plays such a vital role in all of our lives. To appreciate it is to appreciate both the present and the future. If you can help out, please do.

Thank you.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Urban

This week’s WordPress Photo Challenge is difficult for me to meet. I cannot take an urban photo. Living in the Northwest corner of New Jersey, I covort with cows and bears. I’ve yet to meet an urban cow or bear. Therefore, instead, I wrote an urban poem. The included photo was found, not taken by me.

Let me know what you think.

Essence

It’s thickest between the slats of a park bench
carved with time’s hieroglyphics, smattered
with stickiness – bubble gum and bird droppings.

Dante was here
We Are Bronx –‘77
Juliet Slays

Words chiseled into wood –
a moment’s score.

Sit with me. Breathe deep the air
twisting up our legs like ivy.
It adds credence to our lungs.
Sunlight perches on monkey bars,

gathers itself into dollops as round as doves,
waits for us to sink into wood, scrawl
our song – you’ve already begun to hum.