Waldwick August 15, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 9 Waldwick’s U.S Post Office building at Walter Hammond Place is expected to be renamed after Staff Sgt. Joe D’Augustine, a Waldwick native who was killed in action in the Helmand province of Afghanistan in March. The building will be officially dedicated at a future date, with the local American Legion and VFW posts taking part as the community comes together to honor its hero, said Mayor Tom Giordano, who spearheaded the change. Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05) introduced the enabling legislation in the House of Representatives earlier this month and received support from the entire New Jersey delegation, whose members are co-sponsoring the bill. “There is no way to adequately thank and honor Joe for his tremendous courage and sacrifice protecting our nation. What we can do as a community is to give him and his family a lasting tribute that he well deserves,” said Giordano in explaining his decision to pursue the building’s renaming. “By re-naming the post office in his name, we as a community will ensure that his memory is kept alive forever in Waldwick and that whenever one looks at the Post office to be renamed in memory of D’Augustine plaque that will be placed on the front of the building at a ceremony to be announced at a later date you will always remember Staff Sergeant Joseph D’Augustine and all our service men and women who gave their lives for all of us to remain free,” the mayor added. “Words cannot describe the gratitude our community and our country have for Joseph’s selfless commitment to protect his fellow Marines and the freedoms of the United States of America; he is a true hero,” said Garrett after introducing the legislation in the House on Aug. 2. “On behalf of New Jersey’s 5th District and the Waldwick community, I will see that the Waldwick post office is re-named to honor this young man and remember his final sacrifice forever. May we never forget Staff Sergeant D’Augustine’s bravery in the line of duty and the family and friends he left behind,” Congressman Garrett said. “I would like to thank Congressman Garrett for his efforts in having The Waldwick Post Office re-named in Joe’s memory to pay tribute to the sacrifice that Joe has made for our country. We are fortunate to have a caring Waldwick officials anticipate some inconveniences for motorists but no major problems when West Saddle River Road gets repaved this fall. The Lower Cross Road Bridge, the natural detour during the paving, is expected to be closed until January. The road will be closed for its entire one-mile length in Waldwick for milling and resurfacing for two or three days, and the bridge closure will limit the access for detours. “It shouldn’t be a big deal,” said Police Chief Mark Bridge closing to impact resurfacing and supportive Congressman representing us. The residents of Waldwick will always be indebted to him for bestowing this honor on our ‘Waldwick Son,’” Giordano said. D’Augustine, a 2001 Waldwick High School graduate, was assigned to the 8th Engineer Support Battalion of the 2nd Marine Logistics Group out of Camp Lejeune and was a specialist trained to dismantle bombs and land mines. He was on his fourth tour of duty overseas and his second in Afghanistan. The Waldwick hero had been the recipient of several personal awards including the Bronze Star with Valor, the Purple Heart, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal (third award), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, and the NATO-ISAF Medal. Last month his family and friends set up a memorial fund to honor his life, and are sponsoring a golf outing on Aug. 27 at the Montammy Golf Club in Alpine as the first fundraiser. For additional information, visit ssjdmf.com. Messner. “People can take Hollywood Avenue or East Allendale Avenue. We’ll make it work.” Bids on the project are due Aug. 23, and they include a condition that the job must be completed by Oct. 1, according to Borough Administrator Gary Kratz. The borough has received a $146,500 grant from the NJ Department of Transportation Trust Fund to do the job and has appropriated $200,000 to make sure it has the funds in place to cover the entire project before it receives the reimbursement from the state.