NOTE: Cache is not at the posted coordinates,
but you can park within 10 feet of them. You can also park at the
alternate coords without getting on the turnpike.
Welcome to the New Jersey Turnpike/Grover Cleveland Rest Area.
This cache is in memory of the Lewandowski brothers of Lyndhurst,
New Jersey, who gave their lives during World War II within 18
months of each other. After the brothers died, their mother, Stella
Lewandowski, received three gold stars in a ceremony attended by
first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, and sometime later the Hackensack
River Bridge was renamed the Lewandowski Memorial Bridge.
The Brothers:
William J. Lewandowski
Born February 28, 1918
Second Lieutenant - B-17 Co-pilot, 8th Air Force
398th Bomber Group, 603rd Bomb Squadron.
His B-17 bomber was shot down in a raid over Osnabrueck, Germany.
Buried in Belgium.
Walter M. Lewandowski
Born January 9, 1920
Sergeant, 3rd Marine Division, 3rd Regiment,
1st Battalion, A Company.
Killed on the first day of the invasion of Guam, buried in
Hawaii.
Alex Lewandowski
Born January 20, 1925
Private First Class, 9th Army, XIII Corps.,
102nd Infantry, 406th Regiment,
1st Battalion, C Company.
Killed by German artillery fire near Apweiler, Germany, buried in
the Netherlands.
The posted coordinates will bring you to a plaque in their
memory. Using some of the information on the plaque and some simple
math will take you to the final coordinates. While technically a
puzzle cache, it is not meant to be difficult. It is meant for you
to reflect on how some families gave more than their share for your
freedom.
A = number of letters in the first name of the first
brother listed on the plaque
B = number of letters in the country where the second
brother listed on the plaque was killed
C = day of death of the second brother listed on the
plaque
D = day of death of the third brother listed on the
plaque
E = C - D
F = two digit year that the plaque was dedicated
G = decimal part of listed latitude coords
H = decimal part of listed longitude coords
Final Coordinates:
N 40° 33. (G - F) W 074° 15. (A*B - E + H)
FTF gets a scratch-off lottery ticket, good luck!
Congratulations to dkeato on the FTF!
PLEASE DO NOT POST PICTURES OF THE PLAQUE! THANKS!
