Dedication of the Soccer Fields to Marcus A. Gutterson

Bordentown Township recently held a Dedication Ceremony at the Joseph Lawrence Park//Veterans Memorial Park on Saturday, May 22, 2021. Bordentown Township was honored to name the parcel of land the Marcus A. Gutterson Soccer Fields – to be ever memorialized in the township to honor all of Marcus Gutterson’s contributions to the sport of Soccer.

Marcus A. Gutterson has lived in the township for 63 years with his wife Jeannine and together they have five children. Mr. Gutterson is considered the “Father of Organized Soccer” in Bordentown and has given over 40 years of service to our community. In 1969, Marcus created a team of 18 players to compete against the Hamilton teams; and continued to dedicate hours of his time acquiring uniforms, retaining equipment and sought more suitable fields. He also organized coaches and referees, created team rosters, and handled all the game scheduling.

Mr. Gutterson’s efforts paid off and the Community Soccer Association (BCSA) was born. The Association grew from 18 players to over 650 young athletes a year, including both boy and girl divisions and travel ball. Mr. Gutterson organized the end of season banquets and the annual Thanksgiving Day Soccer Tournaments. Furthermore, Marcus was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002-2003 during the Bordentown Regional High School Ceremony.

Marcus A. Gutterson is an exceptional person who worked tirelessly to promote and support all levels of soccer in our community. We honor his meticulous, diligent efforts and recognize that he brought the game of Soccer to our community.

BTPD Performed Ceremonial Unveiling
of Headstone for Former Sergeant

Bordentown Township Police Department performed ceremonial unveiling of headstone for former Sergeant who was also a Vietnam War veteran.

On Friday, May 21 the Bordentown Township Police Department (BTPD) performed a ceremonial unveiling of a headstone recently obtained for Sgt. Stanley Piechota who died in 1982 following a valiant battle with cancer.

Stanley R. Piechota was one of the original eight members of the Bordentown Township Police Department hired when the Department was created in 1972. Prior to his employment as a police officer, Stanley was an enlisted member of the United States Air Force from 1965 to 1969 and served in the Vietnam war. Stanley was promoted to Police Sergeant and was living a normal life with his wife Nancy and two young children, Stanley Jr. and Jill, when he was unexpectedly diagnosed with cancer in 1982 – believed to be caused by exposure to Agent Orange during his military service. Despite receiving excellent medical care and having the support of the Bordentown community, Stanley died shortly after his diagnosis at the young age of 36. He was then buried at the Newtown Cemetery in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

One of our Department's retired officers recently went to visit Stanley's burial site and found that no headstone or marker was located at his place of rest, and that he was buried in an unmarked grave. Our Department then contacted Congressman Andy Kim, whose office quickly provided invaluable assistance in obtaining a headstone for Stanley from the US Department of Veterans Affairs. 

The headstone was unveiled in a graveside ceremony attended by Stanley’s family, friends and former colleagues here at the Police Department. Our Department chaplain, Sgt. Wayne Lebak (Ret.), provided the invocation followed by remarks from Chief Brian Pesce, SFC. Brian Dumont (Ret.), Mayor Steve Benowitz and Stanley’s son, Rick Piechota. The Department Honor Guard then played Taps and performed a flag folding which was presented to Stanley’s family.

The Bordentown Township Police Department extends heartfelt gratitude to Congressman Andy Kim, J.M. Bowker & Son Memorial, Newtown Cemetery and the Piechota family for all their efforts to properly memorialize Stanley in the manner he so justly deserved.