Time capsule to include 200 years of vet artifacts Rotarian Club will hold dedication event tomorrow morning BY MARLENE CANTY Staff Writer OLD BRIDGE - A time capsule filled with veterans' memorabilia will be buried at the municipal complex next to the veterans monument in a special ceremony of the Old Bridge/Sayreville Rotarians Club tomorrow. The capsule, a 3-foot-long, 18-inch-wide barrel made of metal insulated in plastic, will include memorabilia from men and women of various veterans service organizations and information about Old Bridge and the local Rotary Club. Phil Horowitz, public relations chairman for the organization, said the capsule is designed to preserve veterans' artifacts and materials spanning more than 200 years, even dating back to the Revolutionary War. The items represent a summary of the evolution of the American psyche as characterized by its critical moments, wars and conflicts. The capsule itself cost about $2,000, a negligible price for a chance to send a message into the future. It is constructed to last 50 years, and is designed to give a future generation an insightful look at the role of veterans in the history of the U.S. and to give specific information about local veterans and their sacrifices and legacies in helping to create a national identity predicated on Democratic ideals. It will also outline aspects of the Rotary Club, its social and cultural projects and contributions. The organization plans to dig up the missive in about half a century as a follow-up event. According to Margie Cyr, director of the Old Bridge Public Library and president of the Rotarians, the project is funded solely by Rotary Club membership. The event has been about five years in the planning, Horowitz said, noting that it is the first time capsule the Old Bridge/Sayreville Rotarians have buried. About four years ago, the group had another landmark event, the dedication of a $50,000 veterans memorial that includes a statue of a Revolutionary War soldier in authentic regiment uniform, an icon celebrating local soldiers from that war. The monument was also solely sponsored by the Rotarians and was a massive undertaking that Horowitz said took about seven years to bring to fruition. The capsule will be buried near the foot of that monument. Cyr said tomorrow's event will involve a solemn ceremony of dedication. Horowitz noted that the event is not just for veterans, and he is encouraging the general public to attend in honor of those who have given their lives in service to their country. The Old Bridge/Sayreville Rotarian Club is an organization of some 28 members and includes local teachers, attorneys, accountants, retail business people and local residents. The club is really for anyone interested in dedicating time to the community, Horowitz said. Other Rotarian activities include an annual Christmas drive for needy children, an ongoing college scholarship fund, the purchase of two senior citizen buses with handicap accessibility for seniors in Old Bridge and Sayreville, and an annual food drive for homeless or needy local families. This year it hopes to collect as many as 6,000 donations of canned goods, Horowitz said. The goods will feed hundreds of local families and is the product of collaboration between the Rotarians and local high schools. Friday's event is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. For more information contact Phil Horowitz at (732) 257-6166.