JERSEY CITY, NJ —
June 18, 2026 |
By DailyHudson Staff
Longtime friends remembered with pavers and ceremony at Pershing Field.
A Memorial Day ceremony on May 25, 2026, at Pershing Field in Jersey City honored Vietnam War casualties, including four childhood friends known as the Hamilton Park Boys.
The event, organized by Thomas Murphy, highlighted hidden casualties of war by placing names of friends who died from service-related illnesses after returning home alongside those killed in action.
The ceremony specifically honored John Whalen, Robert Postel, Patrick Downes, Frances Dolan, and Michael Majeski, friends of Murphy and Vietnam Era Veteran Joe Calamito.
Their names were added to the Hidden Casualties of War pavers, located across from the Jersey City Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
‘Our friends being honored that day, John Whalen, Robert Postel, and Patrick Downes. Their names were placed into the Hidden Casualties of War pavers,’ said Joe Calamito, a Vietnam Era Veteran who attended the event.
Impact: The ceremony serves as a public recognition of veterans who suffered from service-related illnesses after returning from Vietnam, a group often overlooked in official memorials.
Impact: Residents and attendees placed roses on the memorials, and Billy Joel’s song ‘Goodbye Saigon’ was played, making the event emotional for the local community.
What Happens Next: The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Committee, led by President John Stanton as Master of Ceremonies, is expected to continue annual tributes at Pershing Field.
These pavers now stand as permanent markers at Pershing Field, ensuring the Hamilton Park Boys are never forgotten by the Jersey City community.
Source: River View Observer
