Those who visited the shore this weekend may have noticed that a portion of North Wildwood’s Veterans Memorial Park has opened to the public after many years of planning and construction.
North Wildwood’s Veterans Memorial Park Partially Opens
Located at 201 West Walnut Avenue in North Wildwood, the official groundbreaking for the project took place on May 30, 2022, aiming to expand the existing Veterans Memorial Park into a larger memorial with new monuments, including the Gold Star Monument.
The Gold Star Families Memorial Monument (GSFMM) honors the families of servicemen and women who sacrificed their lives while serving in the military.
The Gold Star Family Memorial was created by Medal of Honor recipient Hershel “Woody” Williams to honor families who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
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The monument features four black granite panels, each representing a different part of the Gold Star Families’ journey: Homeland, Family, Patriot, and Sacrifice. At the heart of the monument is a cutout silhouette of a saluting service member, symbolizing the legacy of those lost and the enduring love of the families they left behind.
As part of the expanded Veterans Memorial Park, the city also added more seating areas, enhanced landscaping, and improved pathways to ensure accessibility for all visitors.
The park’s serene atmosphere makes it a fitting space for reflection and remembrance, especially for those whose loved ones paid the ultimate price in service to their country.
In addition to the Gold Star Families Memorial, Veterans Memorial Park features monuments dedicated to the various branches of the U.S. military.
Over the past few months, crews have worked diligently on the concrete foundation, monument placement, and landscaping. It wasn’t until recently, however, that the construction fences were removed, allowing visitors to get their first glimpse of the newly transformed park.
The Wildwood Video Archive visited the site to film our first Wildwoods Construction Update video of the fall, offering viewers a sneak peek at the park’s progress. That video will be available online next week, but in the meantime, we can confirm that everything looks beautiful.
While the electrical work is still ongoing and the secondary park planned across the street has not yet started, the monuments and benches are now in place.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5491 is planning to dedicate the Gold Star Families Memorial in the spring of 2025, though no official date has been announced yet. They are still in the process on finding more families for the ceremony.
Let us know what you think of the memorial and park so far in the comments below!