War veteran brothers now park namesake

South River monument honors Leo and Matthew Cannon

BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer

The first two South River residents to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., now have a place they can be remembered in a park where their childhood home once stood.

A monument at the newly named Cannon Brothers Park honors the memory of two brothers who served in three wars and once resided where the park is located. A monument at the newly named Cannon Brothers Park honors the memory of two brothers who served in three wars and once resided where the park is located. During a recent ceremony, the Causeway Park was renamed the Cannon Brothers Park, in memory and honor of Cmdr. Leo J. Cannon and Maj. Matthew M. Cannon, the eldest of the seven Cannon brothers and sisters born to Leo Sr. and Margaret Cannon.

A light gray stone monument, which was designed by the Cannon family and made by Clinton Monuments in East Brunswick, symbolizes the renaming of the park with the Naval Academy symbol and the names of the two brothers.

Leo J. Cannon, nephew of the Cannon Brothers and a major in the U.S. Marine Corps, piloted one of the two F-18 aircrafts that flew over during the dedication ceremony. The younger Cannon is the son of Leo and Matthew’s youngest brother, James.

The Cannons’ childhood home, which stood in a row of seven houses along the river between South River and Sayreville, has since been torn down due to the construction of a modern bridge that now connects Main Street in South River with Washington Street in Sayreville.

“Our home was the only one with the dock and boardwalk … it was unique,” said Brian Cannon, one of Leo and Matthew’s younger brothers.

Brian Cannon of South River, who served in the U.S. Navy from 1958-62, and James Cannon of South Amboy, who retired as a gunnery sergeant from the U.S. Marine Corps after 30 years — including two tours in Vietnam — brought the idea to the Borough Council in 2006 under then-Mayor Robert Szegeti.

“We approached the mayor and council when I found out that there was a park down there with a gazebo,” said Brian, who added that the American Legion Post 214 and other veteran groups were instrumental in the dedication.

Leo Cannon was the eldest brother. He dropped out of South River High School to serve in World War II. Cannon was then admitted into the Naval Academy with the likes of Ross Perot, and graduated from the academy in 1953. He passed away in 2004 at the age of 76.

Before Leo entered the academy, he served on President Harry S. Truman’s yacht, the USS Williamsburg. Brian Cannon said he remembers visiting his brother Leo with his then-girlfriend and now-wife Barbara when Leo served on the yacht.

“When you’re young, you tend to not be that impressed with these things,” said Brian, explaining his thoughts on visiting the outside of Truman’s yacht.

Leo Cannon ended his active duty commission in 1964 from the Naval reserve to become a sales and systems analyst for IBM in Panama City, Panama.

Matthew Cannon graduated from South River High School and his father Leo Sr. signed him up for the U.S. Navy when he was 17 years old. He graduated from the academy in 1957. He passed away in 1996 at the age of 65.

“He served on active duty commission for 26 years from 1950 to 1976,” said Brian. “At that time, people in the academy could choose to go into the Navy or the Air Force. He had chosen to enter the Air Force.”

The major served in the Korean and Vietnam wars, and later served with NATO in Europe. He retired from the U.S. Air Force.

Both brothers gained entrance into the Naval Academy through a fleet exam.

“Entry was made into the academy whether you were appointed by a senator or congressman or you passed the fleet exam,” said Brian.

Brian Cannon said his best collective memory about his brothers was in 1971.

“Our father had just passed away and the whole family just laid around in one bedroom in the South River home we had grown up in,” he said. “Matt was more laid back than my brother Leo.”

Good times included fun in the South River.

“I remember Leo would throw Matt into the river,” Brian said as he reminisced about his brothers.

On what he would think his brothers would say about the dedication, Brian smiled.

“Leo, being the oldest, I think he would be flabbergasted,” said Brian with a laugh. “Matt would take it in stride. Maybe they can look at this [the dedication] as their brothers looking out for them.”