A replica of the Roebling World War II Honor Roll will be dedicated at Centennial Park as part of the village’s 100th birthday celebration.
By: Scott Morgan
ROEBLING In 1943, the U.S. was entering its second full year fighting in World War II, yet already there was an effort to memorialize the men from the village who served.
In Roebling, it started "with this guy named Jabbo" who got it in his head to build an honor roll just after Pearl Harbor, said Steve Mognancki, commander of the Opry-Larson’s VFW Post 8838 and one of those Roebling men to serve in the Army in World War II. So the Village of Roebling built the honor roll and dedicated it in 1943, thus commemorating the 600-plus men who left home to fight the war and the 11 who didn’t make it back.
By the end of the following decade, the honor roll was destroyed in a fire that consumed the shed where it was being renovated. For the rest of the 20th century, the honor roll existed only in memories and photographs.
But this weekend, half a century after the original was lost, a replica of the Roebling World War II Honor Roll will be dedicated at Centennial Park. The rededication, according to Rose Menton of the Roebling Centennial Committee, is part of the village’s 100th birthday year calendar.
"I’m a veteran and I think it’s one of the most important things in the whole 100-year celebration," Mr. Mognancki said. "We owe it to the vets."
The dedication is scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday at the newly christened Centennial Park across from the Roebling River Line station and will be overseen by the Roebling VFW, American Legion Post 39, also of Roebling.
While the original wooden honor roll was crafted by local Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, the new aluminum-and-steel marker will be donated by NW Signs Industries of Moorestown.
All members of the public are invited to attend the ceremony.

