The New Jersey National Guard will dedicate a Heritage Room in the Morristown Armory to Corporal William J. O'Donnell, Jr., a Madison resident who was killed in action in Korea in 1951. The dedication will be at the Armory at 11:00 am on September 20, 2001, the 50th anniversary of O'Donnell's death. The Guard is seeking personal memorabilia of Corporal O'Donnell as well as any soldier who served during any period from the Morristown Armory to highlight the service and sacrifice of Morris County residents throughout history. Madison Mayor Jack Dunne is seeking photos, letters, and other memorabilia to help complete the heritage room before the September opening. Items may be dropped off or sent to the Mayor's Office in the Hartley Dodge Building, Madison, NJ 07940 or donors may call 973-593-3038. Mayor Dunne is serving on the committee to raise funds to design and furnish the heritage room, as well as providing labeling and cases for military displays and artifacts. Anyone interested in contributing may send a check to the "National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey" to the Mayor's office.

The new heritage room will reflect the most significant periods in Morris Area military history - the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, Mexican Border Service and World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Modern Period including the Cold War, Vietnam, and Desert Storm. It will be dedicated to William O'Donnell, but will honor all those who served community and country for more than two hundred years from the Morris Area. Artifacts and displays will tell the history of New Jersey's soldiers from 1775 to the present.

Corporal William O'Donnell was a graduate of Madison High School and Seton Hall University and a member of the 695th Armored Field Artillery in the Morristown Armory. He was activated for the Korean War and went to Korea on August 17, 1951. He was killed in action just over a month later by small arms fire on September 20th. He was 23 years old. O'Donnell was the only soldier from the Morristown Armory killed in Korea. Ten soldiers from the Morristown Armory were killed in action in World War II.