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MONUMENT DEDICATION PAYS TRIBUTE TO HISTORIC TOMS RIVER BATTLE
By Jo Ann La Russo
 | | --Photo By Jo Ann La Russo Ocean County historian Pauline Miller displays the newly-dedicated monument to Joshua Huddy, located in Huddy Park. She is flanked by members of the Lakewood High School ROTC. For additional pictures, see this week's Regional News section. |
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TOMS RIVER - Last week, the Joshua Huddy Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) dedicated a new marble and granite monument to Captain Joshua Huddy at a ceremony that took place in a park that shares his name. The ceremony was held to mark the anniversary of the March 24, 1982 Toms River Blockhouse Fight.
Red, white and blue flowers were laid at the monument to honor Joshua Huddy and the patriots that fought to preserve the Village of Toms River on that early Sunday morning 225 years ago.
The Lakewood High School ROTC stood at attention for the ceremony as Toms River Councilmen Gregory McGuckin and John Sevastakis presented plaques from the township to the Huddy chapter of the DAR.
At the dedication, Anne Asay, chapter regent, opened the memorial ceremony followed by invocation from Reverend James Biggs.
Guest speaker and Toms River township clerk and historian J. Mark Mutter spoke about the importance of remembering the township's history and the importance the battle had for the country.
Mutter read passages taken from the speech delivered in 1882 at the Blockhouse's 100-year anniversary. The speech was delivered by William Styker, Adjutant General of New Jersey at that time.
The unveiling was performed by New Jersey DAR State Regent Rita Kline and chapter historian and 50-year member Pauline Miller. As Kline and Miller lifted the shroud from the monument, the crowd of about 50 people viewed the polished marble and stone granite monument inscribed in dedication of the 1782 event.
"This monument is a reminder for our children and grandchildren to remember those who sacrificed so much," said Miller.
Miller called the Huddy monument "a memorial to a battle that took place in Toms River, in 1782, which briefly led to cessation of world peace negotiations in Paris."
"To me the monument is a living memorial," she said. "I am glad that people can visit and realize the importance and the significance of what happened here in Toms River."
Two-year-old Brenna Asay , a future D.A.R. member, placed a white basket of flowers at the monument with the help of her mother, Karen.
The ROTC cadets were outfitted in uniforms depicting each of America's wars, including the War of 1812, Spanish American War, both World Wars, the Vietnam War and uniforms from both the Desert Storm and the Iraqi war.
"This is a wonderful tribute," said Anne Asay, chapter regent.
The high school cadets were accompanied by their teacher Senior Army instructor for the high school ROTC program, Captain Robert Snyder, who said the cadets raised money through donations to purchase the authentic uniforms.
Prior to the ceremony, Cadets Celine Burgos, dressed in a black and white uniform as a soldier from the War of 1812, and Armando Samapyo, dressed in a uniform from the Mexican War, said they enjoyed participating in any special event.
"This is a wonderful tribute to our patriots." said McGuckin, Township Council President. "It reminds me that our citizen soldiers are serving in harm's way on foreign soil just as soldiers fought 225 years ago."
"It's a very important event in the history of our town," Sevastakis added. "It's important that we remember."
Cynthia Smith, administrator of the Ocean County Cultural and Heritage Commission called the day being remembered "a sorrowful one."
"This is a special day," said Smith, "and it makes you wonder how the people in the Village of Toms River felt when such a sudden attack took place on that Sunday morning."
The Huddy chapter of the D.A.R .recently awarded a scholarship in the amount of $2,000 to student Joseph Puma, 18, of Toms River, a senior at Monsignor Donovan High School, said Ellen Derion, the chapter's scholarship chairman.
Joseph, accompanied by his mother, Mary Jo, and his brother, Michael, thanked chapter members at a reception that followed the Huddy Park dedication ceremony.
"I am proud to have the opportunity to study as a result of the scholarship," said Puma, "and I am grateful for the opportunity that the D.A.R. has given me. Thanks to the Huddy chapter for their confidence in me," said Puma, "and for giving me the opportunity to study."
Puma said that he is undecided which college he will be attending this fall. The high school senior said that he is considering studying law in the future.
His brother, Michael, created a trivia board game as a tool to learn about America's Presidents, said Mrs. Puma proudly. The board game, titled On the Road to the White House, started out as a class project, she said.
"What started out as a fourth grade project for my son, Michael, turned into the board game," said Mrs. Puma prior to Saturday's DAR. luncheon held at Capone's Restaurant on Washington Street. The game is based on American Presidential History, and asks questions like, "Who was the first president to be photographed?," "Name the first president to use the term White House?" and "Who shot President Reagan on March 30, 1981?"
Mrs. Puma said that the Toms River Regional Elementary Schools are currently utilizing the board game in classes.
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