This photo, taken on June 15, 1946, shows a “Welcome Home” celebration sponsored by Nutley for servicemen and servicewomen who returned from duty in World War II.
According to Ed Stecewicz, curator of the Nutley Historical Society and Nutley Sons of the American Legion member, the event was organized by Nutley’s mayor at the time, William Jernick, who appears at lower right in the photo. Jernick regularly wrote letters and sent packages to Nutley residents while they were serving overseas. Stecewicz’s uncle received one of the packages while stationed in North Africa.
According to the society, a total of 2,882 men and women from Nutley served in World War II from a population that totaled 21,954 in the 1940 Census; 92 were killed or missing in action. A memorial on the grounds of the Nutley Public Library lists the names of all of the town’s World War II veterans.
