Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-06-20
THAT MEMORIAL BRIDGE IDEA

Why not a memorial bridge across the Rartan rlyerY the
Evening News has asked this question before. 1t seems to us that
The new state highway bridge here offers an exceptional OPP
portunity for New Jersey to fttingly honor her boys who fought
in the World War, and now that what practically amounts to a
fresh start is to be made in planning and building the structure,
why not make an earnest effort to have the bridge the states
memorial to her sons? It is not yet too late to accomplish this if
the proper spirit is shown.
In the first place, a bridge makes an ideal memorial. 1t can
be made very ornamental, and it always stands out against the
landscape where its full beauty can be appreciated. There are
any number of memorial bridges in Europe. It is one of the pop
ular ways to honor those who have achieved greatness. New Jer-
sey could decide on no more appropriate form of memorial than
a handsome bridge across the states greatest river, linking North
and South Jersey so as to avoid any jealousy that might arise
were the memorial to be erected anywhere else, and it would be
something that would be seen and used not only by the people of
This state, but by thousands of tourists from all parts of the coun-
try.
The idea would be to have the bridge itself the memorial, not
merely have a memorial arch or something on the bridge. At the
same time, to have it really worth while, a special appropriation
would have to be made by the legislature for the ornamental.
features. The bridge has got to be built anyway and it is going
to cost about 100000 half of which is to come from the federal
government, the state paying the other half, Merely to go ahead
and build a three million dollar bridge and when it is finished
to call it a memorial to the New Jersey boys who fought in the
World War, would not do at all. 1t would be the same as buying
Johnny a new pair of shoes for a Christmas present when he would
have to have the shoes, anyway. Johnny can't see any Christmas
sentiment in such a gift. Neither could there be any sentiment
in calling a bridge that had to be built anyway, a memorial.
But il, on top of the amount of money needed to build a good,
substantial bridge, an additional sum were appropriated by the
state to make the bridge ornamental and a thing of beauty in adj
dition to being useful, the memorial could easily fit in. The
structure, for instance, might have twenty-one arches or piers,
one for each county in the state; bronze tablets might be placed
on each arch with the names of the county it represents and
possibly the names of the boys from that county who gave their
lives in the war. Elaborate approaches might be made and il
Illumination provided for, with ornamental light standards. The
planning of the bridge, however, would be up to experts in that
line; the idea we wish to convey is that the bridge itself should
be the memorial, not merely place a memorial on the bridge.
Amemorial bridge fttingly designed, would be a feature that
would be included in any tour that people from other states
might make in New Jersey. 1t would be most conveniently loca-
ted for such visitation, being on the main highway route between
New York and the New Jersey coast resorts. Not only would
Jcrseyhes be proud of such a memorial as they crossed over
it-and most Jerseymen would cross it more or less every year
but the non-residents could not help but be impressed with the
way New Jersey had honored her sons.
New Jersey has promised her boys a fitting memorial. Other
states are making good, and it is time New Jersey considered the
matter. When such an opportunity as this bridge affords is Of
fered, something should be done. With the endorsement of the
American Legion and with the proper kind of agitation by various
civic organizations perth Amboy needs one badly, there is rea.
SON to believe this memorial bridge idea can be put across.