Residents show their support for original seal

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Arminio said. “It was an artist’s rendition of an action that changed the course of the war. Hannah Caldwell was the first woman killed in battle in New Jersey. She was shot and killed by a British soldier. One of the girls who was with her testified about that.”

“One of the arguments that was used … is that the seal should be replaced because it’s not accurate, but I feel it’s artistic license, it’s a dramatic picture of what happened,” La Mort said. “The picture on the seal in the doorway of the shadow is supposed to be Elias. The artist is trying to tell the story symbolically.”

“The two women who were present, a girl named Abigail Lennington that did some housekeeping and a nurse named Catherine Benward, testified at the Essex County Courthouse at the inquest into her death.”

Caldwell’s name still figures prominently in Union.

“Hannah Caldwell was the last school built in Union; actually, it was a lab that was converted into a school,” Arminio said. “One of the former board of education members, Ray Perkins, he and his wife were walking down the street when they agreed it would make a good school. They talked to Superintendent Ted Jacobowski and they named it after Hannah Caldwell in the late ’90s.”

As for the issue of the county seal, everyone interviewed said they hoped it was resolved.

“They seem to be indicating that they could revisit this debate, but we're just hoping they’re going to end it,” La Mort said. “The Board of Commissioners meets every other week. We thanked the com- missioners on April 27 for their decision, but nobody from the other groups was there, so maybe they’re dropping it.”

“It came as somewhat of a surprise that the commissioners were thinking of changing the seal,” added Arminio. “I don’t think this is important enough that (the Union County Board of County Commissioners) should spend so much time on a seal that’s been around since 1933.”

Arminio also praised Kean University history graduate Kelly Komar for everything she did, particularly putting together change.org to try to get more support for the current seal.

“She helped quite a bit in getting the word out,” he said. “She put it on Facebook and all those sites.”

He also pointed out that even other towns were agreeing with them.

“The mayor of Elizabeth endorsed us,” Arminio said. “Westfield supported us not changing the seal. To me, the seal is significant, not just for Union but for the area.”

As for the county, it’s more of a waitand-see attitude.

“At this time, the Union County Board of County Commissioners are taking into consideration all of the individuals who have emailed, called or attended the commissioner meetings on both sides of the topic,” Martins said. In her statement. “For the moment, we have decided to postpone changing the seal until we have further discussions on all of the feedback received.”

That response is fine with La Mort.

“We’re happy that the existing seal is not being replaced,” she said. “And we hope that continues. Maybe the matter will just fade into the sunset.”