Veterans & Community Invited to Volunteer for the Service Project on May 6
JERSEY CITY, NJ – Mayor Steven M. Fulop joins the Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS) and Division of Veteran Affairs to invite the entire Jersey City community to participate in a day
of community service at Pershing Field Memorial Park on May 6, 2023. Various projects will take place
throughout the day to beautify and enhance the park and memorial, which dates back to the late 1800s.
Additionally, this significant partnership with The Mission Continues will support the Jersey City Division
of Veterans Affairs’ goal of forming a local platoon to serve our community.
“As Memorial Day approaches, it is especially important for us to
support the many veterans in our community and beyond. Volunteering
for cleanups like this is a great way to engage our veterans alongside
residents to experience the benefits and fulfillment of giving back to the
community where they live and work,” said Mayor Fulop, a Marine
Corps Veteran.
This cleanup will enhance Pershing Field, a park beloved by many
Jersey City residents and especially veterans, as it is the current home
of the 150-year-old archway memorial, which was originally part of the
Fourth Regiment Armory on the corner of Bergen Avenue in McGinley
Square.
Volunteers will also prepare the community center for a large mural of
the Tuskegee Airmen by painting the walls. They will also be doing
some park beautification, including various garden installations.
The one-day service project is hosted by the City’s Division of Veteran Affairs in partnership with nonprofit organization The Mission Continues, local corporate partner Jefferies, and community partner
Pershing Field Garden Friends.
“In HHS, our mission is to help Jersey City residents realize their full potential when it comes to their
mental and physical health. Community-centric events like this cleanup are especially important for our
veterans in finding purpose, whether they are recently reintegrated into society or have a history of
struggling to find purpose again,” added Stacey Flanagan, the Director of the Department of Health
and Human Services. “Our ultimate goal in serving veterans is that they benefit from the thoughtful
services we provide.”
“We are excited to be partnering with Mayor Fulop and the Division of Veterans Affairs alongside
members of the Friends of Pershing Fields this weekend for a day of veteran-led service in Jersey City,”
said Mary Beth Bruggeman, President of The Mission Continues and Marine Corps Veteran. “This
type of work is only possible thanks to our local partners and community members, and this is exactly the
kind of collaboration that leads to lasting and visible impact on both veterans and communities.”
Juliet Foster, an Air Force Veteran, is the Division of Veteran Affairs Director. “I am thrilled to
work with our Veterans Advisory Task Force Chairman, Michael Aiello, to partner with The Mission
Continues, Jefferies Financial Group, and our community leaders from the Pershing Field Garden Friends
to bring this positive community project to fruition. This is a wonderful endeavor, and I’m proud that we
can bring our first veteran service project to the community.”
“Pershing Field has long served as a Jersey City landmark,
where veteran contributions are honored and remembered. We
are thrilled to partner with the Mission Continues and
Veteran’s Affairs to improve this important site,” said Debby
DeVenezia, President of Pershing Field Garden Friends.
“We are putting in plants that are native to our region,
sustainable and resilient; the garden will mitigate runoff, hold
rain water and ensure the strength of our garden for years to
come. It is our hope that this garden serves as a living tribute
to the resilience and valor of service men and women of the
United States of America.”
“Jefferies is proud to partner with the City of Jersey City, The
Mission Continues, and Pershing Field Garden Friends to
transform this important space. As we approach Memorial
Day, there is no better way to honor service members than to
volunteer alongside veterans and members of the community,”
said Michael Aiello, a Managing Director at Jefferies.
Jersey City invites everyone to join this volunteer event to contribute to the positive impact this will have
on the community. For more information or to register to volunteer, please visit The Mission Continues
website here. Pershing Field Memorial Park is located at 201 Central Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07307. The
event is on May 6 from 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. Lunch will be provided to volunteers.
About The Mission Continues
The Mission Continues organization connects veterans with under-resourced communities. Their
programs deploy veteran volunteers to transform communities by working alongside non-profit partners
and community leaders to improve educational resources, tackle food insecurity, and foster neighborhood
identity.
