Background

The genesis of the town's Fallen Heroes - Gold Star Families Street Dedication Program, occurred in 2019 and was a joint effort between the town's Memorial Day Committee and American Legion Post 209, who identified 20 Scotch Plains Veterans that made the ultimate sacrifice and were killed or missing in action in various conflicts.  Lawn signs bearing their portrait, name, rank, and conflict participated in were created for each of the 20 Fallen Heroes.  Local Cub Scout Troop 53 volunteered to post each lawn sign at the street corner of the Fallen Heroes residence and make a short video recognizing and honoring each of the 20 Fallen Heroes.  This collection of videos was posted to our town website for all residents to view.

The success of this effort to recognize our Fallen Heroes left us with the desire to do more in memorializing these 20 Fallen Heroes and their Gold Star Families. Thus, the Street Dedication program was born, beginning with the dedication of Sgt Barich on Veterans Day, November 2021.

Program Guidelines

Honorees must be verifiable residents of Scotch Plains, must have served honorably in one of the US Armed Forces Service Branches (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard), in an officially US Designated combat zone, and in doing so received the official designation as killed in action or missing in action in that designated combat zone.  Veterans who meet these guidelines would be recognized and honored through a ceremony and placement of a street sign topper affixed to the current street sign at the intersection nearest their Scotch Plains Residence / home of record during their service.