Jersey City WW2 Memorial

Ladies and Gentleman, Alfred Rinn is my 97 year old grandfather.
World War 2 Marine Veteran.
Retired Jersey City Police Detective.
Father of 3. Grandfather of 9. Great-grandfather of 8(with more on the way).
Life long Jersey City, NJ resident.

"Big Al", as friends and family know him, has dedicated his life serving his country, his state, and his home town of Jersey City, NJ.
First, of course, as a marine, where he was stationed in the Pacific during World War 2.
Then, as a Jersey City Police officer, where he protected the community he loves every day for many years before retiring in 1978.
And once more, when he went back to work for the state after retiring, where he was employed well into his 90s. (yes, you read that right, this man worked every day of his life until he was 94 years old)

For over 25 years Grandpa has been campaigning to have a proper memorial/monument for the fallen World War 2 soliders erected in Jersey City... and for 25 years he has been told by Jersey City's officials that they would "look into it" ...

This not an issue of space or location, of course. Jersey City has the space and its been discussed many times over the years. It is an issue of money. No one wants to foot the bill to tell the tale and pay homage to the late, great men of my grandfather's generation.

I'm not here to glare at one one, lay blame, or stomp my feet about that.

I'm here because my grandfather is 97 years old, and we're more than lucky to have had him with us this long.
This has been a dream of his for a long time.
He does not want the credit. He does not care for the recognition. He just wants to see it done.

Big Al has tried to fundraise the money in the past, but as you might have guess, he's an old fashion kind of man.
He doesn't have a computer.
What he does have, are 8 tenacious granddaughters and a grandson who would love for the world to teach him a new definition for the word "viral". 

Please donate. If you cannot donate please share. Help me show this man that there are still people in the world willing to give back to help others realize their dreams. 



My grandfather's story has already been covered by Rebecca Panico of The Jersey Journal.

You can view that here:
http://www.nj.com/jjournal-news/index.ssf/2015/05/jersey_citys_monument_man_we_n.html

Thank you, Rebecca, for shining some light on his dreams.

I also want to extend a special thank you to Assemblyman Raj Mukherji of Hudson County NJ for reaching out to my grandfather about this as well.

Thank you for taking the time to read.

Sincerely,

Jillian Lyndsay Harris