Scutari signs law designating highway interchange for Korean War veteran
By David Wildstein, August 29 2023 9:45 pm
Acting Gov. Nicholas Scutari signed a law today designating a Route 287 interchange in honor of Korean War veteran Warren E. Wihide, Sr.
Wilhide played a leading role in designating Route 287 as the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway in 1995.
“Mr. Wilhide was well-known for his dedication and service to both his country and community,” said Senate Minority Leader Anthony M. Bucco, who sponsored the bill with Assemblyman Christian Barranco (R-Jefferson). “As a token of our gratitude for his service, the Harter Road Interchange will now be known as the Warren E. Wilhide Interchange.”
After being stationed at an air base in South Korea, Wilhide was later assigned to an anti-aircraft battery defending the White House and U.S. Capitol in Washington. He later moved to Morris County to run a consulting firm; Wihide’s volunteer work included time in Haiti after an earthquake, at a children’s hospital in Morrocco, and as a math and science teacher in Tanzania. |
He died nearly three years ago.
“No one is more deserving than he of being recognized for his love of country and remembering why we enjoy the freedoms we do,” said Barranco. “(His) dedication to our country, his fellow veterans, and his service to those in need around the globe is the example of patriotism for all of us to follow.”
Scutari also signed a proclamation declaring the week of August 28 to September 1 as “I Have a Dream Week,” in recognition of the 60th Anniversary of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s fabled speech.
“Dr. King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ address at the Lincoln Memorial 60 years ago continues to be one of the most significant speeches in history,” said Scutari. “Its impact was both immediate and timeless. It helped propel the enactment of the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act – two of the defining achievements of the civil rights movement – and continues to serve as an inspiration for civil and economic justice throughout the world.”