John Park Hart

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John Park Hart is mentioned in the Hackensack High School paper first in the “Senior Honor Roll”, which I believe is a list of those who are serving in the Armed Forces. The paper also mentions him in another article that he is in the service.
J. Park Hart is also listed with the names of the graduating seniors.

SEVEN HACKENSACK BOYS AT FORT SLOCUM , April 26, 1918.

J. Park Hart and Russell S. Hastings are both mentioned in this article. They are being stationed in Camp Slocum N.Y. They had successfully passed the Medical Corps exam.

TWO HACKENSACK BOYS GET TRANSFERS FROM FORT SLOCUM , May 14, 1918.
J. Park Hart was being transferred to Fort Wadsworth, which I believe is in Texas .

EUGENE BREEN HAS SPANISH INFLUENZA, September 30, 1918.

This article heading reveals the popularity of Eugene Breen, but it mentions that J. Park Hart is seriously ill in a camp near Gettysburg .

I did not come across an article yet (August 2009) of J. Park Hart's death, but he did die of the flu shortly after this because his name is on the plaque in the Library and at the cemetery honoring those who died during World War I.

This memorial plaque was erected shortly after World War I. The tree was planted along with the plaque by the citizens of Hackensack to honor those men who died during their service in the Great War.  The small monuments are located on the southern side of Foschini Park with a small tree planted along with it.  When the tree planting and small memorials were put up, the area was probably part of the Oritani Field Club. 

I played baseball in Foschini Park my entire young life till I was 20 years old (I am 54 years old now - January 2010) and I never knew these memorials were there until last year (2009) when the city manager mentioned it to me. 

Let us never forget the servicemen's sacrifice.

Written by:
Bob Meli
January 2010

Background image of World War I Soldiers marching obtained from: