Section of linear park might be named for fallen soldier

KINGSTON, N.Y. » A section of the city’s linear park near the Rondout Gardens apartment complex might be named for U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Charles W. Johnson, the first Kingston man to die in the Vietnam War.

The Common Council’s Public Safety/General Government Committee on Wednesday endorsed a resolution to name the section of the linear park that runs alongside Murray Street, near Delaware Avenue, in memory of Johnson, who lived on Murray Street. The resolution will go to the full council next week for a vote.

The request to rename the section of the park came from state Assemblyman Kevin Cahill, D-Kingston, who said in a letter to Common Council President Andrea Shaut that Johnson “paid the ultimate sacrifice.”

“Sergeant Johnson grew up on Murray Street in the city of Kingston and was a varsity athlete in both basketball and football at Kingston High School,” Cahill wrote. “His family instilled in him a strong belief in military duty, as he followed the path of his older brother and enlisted in the Army. After 12 years of distinguished service, Sergeant Johnson had the grave misfortune of being the first casualty in Vietnam from Kingston on Jan. 12, 1967.”

Gabriella Madden, Cahill’s chief of staff, told the council committee during its virtual meeting that the idea initially was to rename Murray Street for Johnson. She said that plan changed when research showed the street had been named for an Irish immigrant who played a significant role in the history of the city’s Rondout area.

“Instead of the street being renamed, we went for the park that’s over there,” Madden said.

Alderman Tony Davis, DWard 6, said he is related to some of the Johnsons and spoke to family members, who told him they were happy to have the park section named for the fallen sergeant.

Madden said the city could erect a sign or Cahill’s office would make alternative arrangements once the naming is approved by the Common Council.