Senator Tiver introduces bill to protect Fallen Soldier Memorials

TRENTON - In response to recent controversy surrounding a veterans’ monument in Fair Lawn, Senator Latham Tiver has introduced Bill S3681, which mandates that battlefield cross memorials across New Jersey must include replicas of a vertical rifle, helmet, boots, and dog tags. 

The proposed legislation follows community disagreements over a planned monument to honor Vietnam veterans, with some locals expressing concerns that the imagery of the battlefield cross could be “triggering.”

The Fair Lawn monument was meant to commemorate the sacrifices of Vietnam veterans, but opposition from some community members left veterans and their supporters feeling frustrated and disrespected. Many veterans voiced their displeasure, highlighting that these monuments serve not only as a way to honor the fallen but also as a poignant reminder of the cost of freedom.

Senator Tiver shared his thoughts on the controversy, saying, "A monument makes you uncomfortable? You know who was really uncomfortable? Veterans who died overseas to protect your freedoms. I’ve introduced a bill to require all fallen soldier battle cross monuments to include boots, dog tags, and a vertical rifle so these veterans don’t have to fight a domestic battle in order to properly honor their fallen brothers and sisters."

“The battlefield cross has long stood as an iconic symbol of sacrifice in military communities, and this bill would preserve that,”Tiver continued.