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News
307th Memorial, Central Park, NYC
"For your interest, a grove is located in Central
Park right off Fifth Avenue and 69th Street, and is
dedicated to the 307th Infantry Regiment. It is a
two acre site with one large rough stone monument
and 14 small tree-based monuments. We are attempting
to gain approval to have the monuments rehabilitated
to their original condition, plant trees where
currently missing, add a plaque of historical
significance regarding the unit in both WWI and
WWII, and provide a link to the 77th, the
NYC division as formed in 1917. Stop by and view the
area when you’re in NYC."
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Ms.
Rita Cosby addressing the audience. |
On 5 June 2010, the 77th Infantry
Division Reserve Officer’s Association and the
307th Infantry Veterans Society conducted
another annual Commemoration ceremony in the
307th Infantry Regiment Memorial Grove in
Central Park, New York. The service honored the
soldiers of the 307th and other units of the
77th Infantry Division who made the ultimate
sacrifice in WWI and WWII.
MG William Monk III, Commander, 99th Readiness
Support Command, and MG William Terpeluk, former
Commander, 77th Regional Readiness Command,
spoke about the history of the 77th Infantry
Division and its distinguished service during
WWI and WWII. In addition, Ms. Rita Cosby, an
Emmy-winning journalist, author and CBS
Host/Special Correspondent, spoke movingly about
her gratitude to U.S. forces who rescued her
father, Richard Cosby (Ryszard Kossobudzki) in
Germany at the end of WWII. Mr. Cosby, at age
15, had joined the Polish Resistance in Warsaw
and was captured and shipped by the Nazis to a
POW camp near Dresden, from which he and others
eventually escaped. Ms. Cosby recently wrote
Quiet Hero: Secrets from My Father’s Past (©
2010, 296 pp., Simon & Schuster) about this
story, and portions of the proceeds are being
donated by her to the USO’s Operation Enduring
Care, and the Museum of the History of Polish
Jews and the Warsaw Uprising Museum.
BG Harry J. Mott, III, assisted by MSG Mary Lou
Bornmann, presented Certificates of Recognition
for their WWII service to COL Martin Dawson, MAJ
Leonard A. Nugent, LTC John W. Peterkin and
T/SGT Sebastian La Scala. Unfortunately, COL
Richard L. Boyle, COL Joseph A. Calamari and LTC
John H. Weaver, Jr. were unable to attend to
receive their Certificates. This portion of the
ceremony was arranged and narrated by COL Robert
Braverman.
An element of the 319th US Army Band played the
National Anthem, God Bless America and Taps
during the ceremony, as well as a number of
other pieces immediately before and afterwards.
The 77th Sustainment Brigade from Fort Dix
provided the color guard and logistical support.
COL (CHAP) Joseph Orlandi, former Chaplain, HQ,
77th RRC, gave the invocation, prayer and
benediction. COL Louis H. Sudholz, Jr. moderated
the program, and COL Edwin G. Logan, assisted by
COL Lawrence M. Bellman and COL Allen J. Nadler,
presided over the placement of the memorial
wreath at the 307th Infantry Regiment WWI
memorial boulder. A recently acquired replica of
the 77th divisional colors was on display behind
the speakers’ podium.
Our Association’s 307th Committee and the 307th
IVS recently presented a proposal to the Central
Park Conservancy which outlined a suggested plan
for the restoration of the Grove and the
fulfillment of a longstanding wish of the 307th
IVS for a complementary WWII memorial boulder.
We will continue our efforts to restore the
Grove to its natural beauty and complete its
development as both a WWI and WWII memorial.
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Pictured is the memorial
wreath placement
at the ceremony |
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BG (Ret) Harry J. Mott III,
assisted by MSG Mary Lou Bornmann, presenting to
Maj (Ret) Leonard (Bud) Nugent |
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