By Steffen Klenk
On Wednesday, March 20, area officials and veterans were on site at Atlantic City’s O’Donnel Memorial Park for the arrival of the Bernie Friedenberg Memorial Statue. Located next to the existing World War I Memorial and across from Stockton University, the bronze statue, designed and created by Fisher Sculpture, depicts a six-foot likeness of Friedenberg cradling a soldier in his arms at Omaha Beach in 1944.
Friedenberg was an Atlantic City native who served as an Army medic and fought in World War II. His heroism on D-Day and later in Germany earned him two Silver Stars. He also received a Bronze Star for valor, and two Purple Hearts for wounds sustained while in combat. Upon his return to the states, Friedenberg devoted his life advocating for the welfare of veterans.
A formal dedication of the statue will take place at 12 p.m. on June 6, 2024, the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Stay tuned to upcoming editions of Shore Local for expanded coverage.
