Harrison's Memorial Monument: Korean War

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday that is observed on the last Monday of May each year. Memorial Day commemorates the men and women who died while in military service. It was formerly known as Decoration Day, and it was first officially observed in 1868. Memorial services were being held all over the country before that, but it was not until after the Civil War that Memorial Day became an official holiday.

The Harrison Post 282 American Legion and the Sergeant William Sawelson VFW Post 340 held the Harrison Memorial Day Tribute on Thursday, May 26, 2022, at the Veterans Plaza in Franklin D. Roosevelt Park, also known as the Library Park located at 10 South Frank E. Rodgers Blvd. in the middle of Harrison’s business district.

One of the three monuments in Harrison’s Veterans Plaza honors the soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in the Korean War monument.   Those soldiers are honored with the following inscription on the monument,

In Honor of Those Who Made The Supreme Sacrifice in Korean War

Leonard Bonczkowski

Robert J. Ozelas

Thomas Ross

Peter Salalino

Leo P. Sawyer

In in effort to honor the soldiers from the Town of Harrison who made the Supreme Sacrifice in the Korean War we tried to get additional information on each of the soldiers.  Unfortunately, there was limited information or no information on line for some of the soldiers.

PFC Leonard Bonczkowski

Leonard Bonczkowski of Harrison NJ was a Private First Class in the United States Army, 5^th Cavalry Regiment, 1^st Cavalry Division who was Killed in Action  on September 21, 1950 in Taegu Area of Korea.  He was twenty years old. He predeceased his mother Mrs. Martha Bonczkowski

PVT Robert J. Ozelas

Robert Joseph Ozelas of Harrison NJ was a Private in the United States Army, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division who was Killed in Action in South Korea on September 8, 1950. He was nineteen years old He was known as "Bobby". He predeceased his parents Michael J. and Carolina Ozelas, Lithuanian immigrants.

PFC Thomas Ross

Thomas Ross of Harrison NJ was a Private First Class in the Marines who was Killed in Action on September 26, 1950, in Korea.

Peter Salalino

Peter Salalino of Harrison NJ. No information was available online regarding Peter Salalino.

Leo P. Sawyer

Leo P. Sawyer of Harrison NJ.  No information was available online regarding Leo P. Sawyer.

For more information on the Harrison Post 282 American Legion and the Sergeant William Sawelson VFW Post 340 Harrison Memorial Day Tribute please visit our prior article Harrison Post 282 American Legion and Sergeant William Sawelson VFW Post 340 Harrison Memorial Day Tribute.

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