Passaic, N.J. – Mayor Hector C. Lora, and City of Passaic, along with its partners Habit for Humanity, and VFW came out on the mornings of Wednesday February 15 & 22, 2023 at 7:45 a.m. to help build the Albert Lawson VFW Memorial Post at 135 Summer Street in Passaic, NJ. This $2 million investment redevelopment project will be a VFW veteran resource center in the city of Passaic. Work included framing, shoveling gravel, hammering nails, sawing wood, drilling nails and preparing wood.
“My goal as Mayor is to completely hand this over to the VFW when this project is done. There will be affordable housing on top to keep this sustainable and makes sure the VFW never ever is in jeopardy again in the city. I hope that this will inspire the leaders around our state and nation to recreate this model. I believe that this model is the most pragmatic and will be the most successful model to avoid closing VFW’s.” Said Mayor Lora.
VFW traces back to 1899 when veterans of the Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection founded local organizations to secure rights and benefits for their service. Some of these veterans came together and formed what is now known as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. Since then they have created a GI bill that fights for Vietnam vets and won a long-fought victory expanding educational benefits to America’s active-duty service members and members of the Guard and Reserves. They have fought to improve medical centers for women veterans and became the first veterans’ organization to contribute to building the new Disabled Veterans for Life Memorial. “I’m so excited for the efforts of those volunteering and those working everyday so that this projects expedites the grand opening date and I’m also very excited about community participation. If you are interested and free on weekdays, we want you to come help assist us in doing the work. It’s exciting and fulfilling work.” Said Mayor Lora.
If you are interested in volunteering to help build the Albert Lawson VFW Memorial Post, please visit Habitat For Humanity | Passaic County Habitat For Humanity | New Jersey (habitatpc.org).
All inquiries and interested parties should be directed to Lillian Yang at lyang@cityofpasssaicnj.gov