While the students in the Web Design class and I (Bob Meli) have been working on the
New Milford in World War II book during November 2010, some names need to be explained as to why and how we came to include them on our list and in our research.
On the Original Wall Unit, the names were written on the 1 x 3 inch pieces of wood, where the name plates are mounted on today. Before being painted over, they were copied off of the wall by the Art Department teachers. The name (John Grene) was on our list. After learning of the connection of all New Milford residents to Hackensack High School, it was not a stretch to see when written in pen on a piece of wood that a slight of hand could easily make the ‘v’ look like an ‘n’. Also, according to the information on his brother,
Robert Greve, who died in a prisoner of war camp in Germany, the family moved out of town to Hillsdale in 1939. Robert graduated from Westwood High School. The date of the move means that John would have gone to Hackensack High School at least till his junior year in 1939 and may have completed school at Hackensack in 1940. Still we have no High school photo to verify. So rather than err at this time on not posting his information, we have chosen to err on the side of honoring his service while we are working on this book.
Sincerely,
Bob Meli
November 11, 2010 |