The Rockaway Borough Historical Committee has taken on the responsibility to erect a commemorative kiosk to honor borough residents who served during one of eight major U.S. conflicts.

"After the World War II honor roll was dedicated in 2002, there have been numerous questions from many people whose names were omitted," said Ed Miller, president of the borough’s Historical Committee. The borough’s war memorial, located at Veteran’s Memorial Park on East Main Street, next to the town’s public library, today consists of two towering kiosks, enshrining the names of 571 World War II veterans, a flag pole overlooking a gazebo and a large granite stone.

After years of failing to get other town organizations, such as the American Legion, to take the lead on updating the memorial, "the borough’s Historical Committee decided to take on the responsibility of erecting a third, maybe a fourth kiosk at Veteran’s Memorial Park, to capture the names omitted from the World War II memorial and to add all those who served during the Spanish American War, World War I, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Afghanistan and Iraq," Miller said.

The Historical Committee has given itself a year to complete the assignment. "The first thing we have to do is collect names," Miller said. To be eligible, men and women must have been a resident of the borough at the time of entry into the military. The time of service must have been during at least one of the major wars: Spanish American War of 1898; World War I, 1914-1918; World War II, 1941-1945; Korea, 1950-1953; Vietnam, 1959-1975; Gulf War (Desert Storm), 1990-1991; Afghanistan and Iraq, 2001 to present.

Miller is asking for help in identifying military veterans. "The last time this was done it took almost a year to complete," Miller said. Names can be emailed to echaneau@optonline.net. Ed Miller can be reached at (973) 627-5575 or by mail at The Borough of Rockaway Historical Committee, 199 West Main Street, Rockaway, 07866.