Monmouth County unveils NJ 250 monument at Swimming River Park

Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners Director Tom Arnone presided over a dedication ceremony at Swimming River Park in Middletown to unveil a new NJ 250 monument marking America's 250th anniversary. Arnone opened the event by calling it "a very, very special day in Monmouth County," and introduced the monument and a slate of countywide NJ 250 programs.

The monument dedication included an invocation by Reverend Brian Butch, remarks by Monmouth County Clerk and co-chair Christine Hanlon and a statement from Middletown Mayor Tony Perry. "May this monument here always serve as a symbol of our county's rich history," Hanlon said, framing the sculptures as a tribute to the diverse roles Monmouth residents played during the Revolution. Mayor Tony Perry thanked the board for preserving the park site, saying, "All the applause and appreciation to the commissioners for saving this site."

Sculptor Brian Hamlin described the work as a personal project and explained its structure as a triptych telling a three-part story: "patriotism, the fight, and the family." "This is the pinnacle of my career," Hamlin said, noting his local roots and past public works in the county. Arnone noted the county's broader NJ 250 effort, including a mobile app, a podcast series, educational booklets, a step challenge and a sold-out NJ 250 gala for which 1,350 tickets were reported sold.

Officials led a public countdown and revealed the monument; Arnone pointed out the inscription planned for the base: "Freedom's Battleground." The program closed with a performance of "America the Beautiful" by Julia Santiago and an invitation for attendees and the public to visit the monument after the ceremony.

The ceremony emphasized that the monument is intended both as a memorial to Monmouth County's Revolutionary War history'including the Battle of Monmouth on June 28, 1778'and as a focal point for yearlong community programming. Organizers encouraged residents to take part in the county's scheduled events, which will be hosted at multiple venues across Monmouth County.