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Add as a preferred sourceA new monument honoring women veterans now sits near the entrance of the Rockaway Township Municipal Building at 65 Mount Hope Road, thanks to a Scouting project by Clara McKinney, a junior at Morris Knolls High School.
The monument is a boulder with a plaque. McKinney also built a landscaping wall and garden bed around the Township’s electronic sign at the municipal building, according to the minutes of the Sept. 22, 2026 Township Council meeting and a Sept. 29 report in The Citizen of Morris County.
What the plaque says
The plaque reads: “Dedicated to Women Veterans In honor of the women of Rockaway Township who wore our nation’s uniform with courage and distinction across the generations. With gratitude to those who served and those serving now. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten, and their example will continue to inspire those who follow.”
Recognized by the mayor and council
Mayor Joe Jackson recognized McKinney during the presentations portion of the Sept. 22 council meeting. The Township’s minutes describe her as a future Eagle Scout, and The Citizen identified her as a Girl Scout.
McKinney told the council why she chose the project. “I noticed that there was a lack of recognition for female veterans in the township and across the country. So I decided to dedicate a monument out front to the female veterans that haven’t been seen and recognized,” she said, as reported by The Citizen.
Jackson thanked McKinney and those who helped her, including fellow Scouts and her family. “They did a lot of work and got it done. We’re very appreciative of it,” he said.
The monument was donated in partnership with Tilcon, a construction materials and road building company, and the work was supported by the Township’s Parks and Recreation staff, according to the minutes and The Citizen.
Visiting around Veterans Day
The monument is outdoors near the building entrance. Veterans Day falls on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. The Rockaway Township Municipal Building will be closed that day, according to the Township calendar, and Rockaway Borough municipal and court offices will also be closed, according to the Borough’s 2026 holiday list. As of Oct. 25, neither town had posted a 2026 Veterans Day ceremony on its official calendar.
Rockaway Township and Rockaway Borough are separate municipalities. The monument is in Rockaway Township.
Related coverage: Which High School Do Rockaway Township and Borough Kids Attend? and Rockaway Township Council to Weigh Lithium Battery Rules Oct. 13, 2026.
