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Old Tappan receives 'veterans municipality' recognition and plans memorial expansion
Summary
At its reorganization meeting, the Borough of Old Tappan accepted a plaque recognizing the borough under a veterans‑municipality program and discussed a planned expansion of the Oaks Park veterans memorial, veterans hiring and parking initiatives, and ongoing committee activities.
Council President Bill Boyce introduced a veterans recognition presentation at the Borough of Old Tappan's reorganization meeting, inviting Fred Puglisi and a veterans representative to the dais.
Colonel Pete Nipo, who identified himself as a retired Army colonel and volunteer with local veterans efforts, described the plaque presented to the borough and the elements that qualified Old Tappan for the designation. He said the plaque refers to municipal commitments such as “specialized veteran-only parking throughout the municipality” and efforts to “establish veterans hiring programs.”
“Old Tappan is hereby recognized as a veterans municipality for the commitment to veterans,” Boyce said while outlining the ordinance and local steps that led to the designation. Boyce also noted materials procured for a planned expansion of the veterans memorial at Oaks Park, listing concrete, block walls and oak beams as part of the project design.
Boyce said the memorial expansion is intended to add wars and conflicts since the Korean War that are not currently represented. He added that veteran‑sponsored Eagle Scout projects will support the memorial, including a Purple Heart memorial element.
Fred Puglisi and other veterans committee members were thanked for regular attendance and for helping organize veterans programs and ceremonies, including participation in the Northern Valley High School Veterans Day observance.
The presentation concluded with a photo opportunity and a call for continued committee participation to support veterans programming and the memorial expansion.
Next steps: council members described design and procurement work already under way and indicated the memorial expansion will move forward with collaboration from the historic committee and volunteer project sponsors.
