He fought for fellow Korean War veterans. Now a portion of Route 287 will honor his name

Thirty years ago, a Korean War veteran from Morris County led the charge to have Route 287 renamed the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway in honor of his fellow servicemen.

Now, the late Warren Wilhide will get his own tribute, with a portion of the interstate near his longtime home to be named after him.

Acting Governor Nicholas Scutari on Tuesday signed legislation to designate the Harter Road portion of Route 287 as the Warren E. Wilhide Interchange. Senate Majority Leader Anthony Bucco cosponsored the legislation in memory of Wilhide, an Army veteran who died at age 88 in 2020.

Known for both local and international volunteer efforts, Wilhide worked with Bucco's father, the late Sen. Anthony R. Bucco, and others in 1998 to designate Route 287 in honor of Korean War vets and provided additional designations along the interstate for fellow service members.

“I am very pleased to help recognize the life, work and service of Warren E. Wilhide Sr.,” Scutari said in a news release announcing the designation. “His military service during the Korean War, dedication to his fellow veterans, as well as his volunteer relief efforts around the world, is a model to us all.”

"Our family will always cherish this honor," said his son, Warren Wilhide Jr. "Likewise, Harter Road and Exit 33 will always be special as that is right next to our parent's house in Morris Township, where we all have many fond memories from over the years."

In addition to supporting local military veteran activities and events in Morris County, Wilhide donated his presence and time over the years to an earthquake relief group in Haiti, a children’s hospital in Morocco and to students learning math and science in Tanzania, according to Bucco's office.

"Mr. Wilhide was well-known for his dedication and service to both his country and community,” said Bucco, who represents greater Morristown in state Legislative District 25. “This legislation ensures that Mr. Wilhide’s legacy will live on forever along a portion of Route 287."

Wilhide joined the Army at age 19 and began serving in Korea in 1951, according to his obituary. During his tour, he delivered supplies from an air base in Chuncheon to troops on the front lines, sometimes in extreme winter conditions.

"He always said how thankful he was to serve our great country and how lucky he was to have made it back home," Wihide Jr. said. "He spent a lot of time on Route 287 restoring, fixing and decorating those signs in honor of the Korean War veterans."

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After the war, Wilhide used the GI Bill to attend Johns Hopkins University's School of Engineering, graduating in 1958. He later returned to the Pacific Theater when he was invited to join his fellow veterans in South Korea for the 50th Anniversary of the Korean War. At these events, he received honors for his service and the donation of his color slides to Sejong University.

A special ceremony was held on the Morristown Green in May during annual Memorial Day services to honor Morris County's Korean War veterans. "A lot of them are close to 90 or in that age range now," Wilhide Jr. said.

“This bill pays respect to the efforts made by Mr. Wilhide to make our country and our state a better and safer place,” Bucco said. “In recognition of his efforts to help remember and honor those who served alongside him, Mr. Wilhide’s memory will now be preserved."

William Westhoven is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com 

Twitter: @wwesthoven

This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Route 287 by Morristown renamed for veterans advocate Warren Wilhide