Hoboken, History, and Hope: A Story of War and Home

What connects baseball and Frank Sinatra besides Hoboken birth? Both hail from Hoboken, a New Jersey town that often reminds visitors of a sunny coastal village yet delivers striking views of sea and Manhattan towers. For many, Hoboken’s place in history begins with its role as a major embarkation point during the First World War. The port served as the gateway for more than two million young Americans called to serve as infantry, a fact that etched the city into the national memory. General John J. Pershing, who led United States forces in 1917, left a lasting impression with a famous line about the future of the soldiers. He spoke of a journey that could end at Christmas, a promise that echoed the hope of home and peace after years of war. The expression that emerged from that moment became a symbol linked to Hoboken and to the wartime experience as the holidays approached.