Following the successful $5 million rehabilitation and expansion of the Wall of Remembrance at Veterans Memorial Park, the Delaware River and Bay Authority has announced a unique opportunity for Gold Star families who had a loved one recognized on the original memorial wall. Nearly 15,000 service men and women from Delaware and New Jersey were recognized and honored on the original 1955 memorial wall, and family members are invited to request and take home the specific section of the panel featuring their relative’s name.

“The Wall of Remembrance is sacred ground, and we recognized that the original panels displaying those who paid the ultimate price for our freedoms carry immense emotional weight for families,” said Joel V. Coppadge, DRBA executive director. “Instead of recycling or disposing of these historic panels, we decided to give our community the opportunity to obtain a piece of the original memorial wall containing their relative’s name. Free of charge, our maintenance team will personally and carefully cut out each requested name so that it can be preserved as a family heirloom.”

The original panels, which stood for seven decades, featured the names of those who made the ultimate sacrifice during World War II and the Korean War. During the recent renovation, these were replaced with an expanded wall that now honors more than 16,000 heroes across all conflicts, including the Vietnam War and subsequent operations in the Middle East.

Families wishing to receive a portion of the panel featuring their relative’s name must contact Sheriese Coy, DRBA Maintenance Office manager, at sheriese.coy@drba.net in writing. The request should include the veteran’s name, the requester’s name and contact information as well as pertinent information to verify familial status. Once the request is processed, the DRBA maintenance team will carefully extract the specific section of the panel. A follow-up email will be sent alerting the requester that the name plaque is ready to be picked up.

The name plaque must be picked up in person at the DRBA administrative offices at 2162 New Castle Ave., New Castle.