Manville, New Jersey, made history on May 4, 2026, becoming the first municipality to unveil an official “Victory Town” marker commemorating the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route and the march that helped win American independence.
The new marker, unveiled at Manville Borough Hall, honors the thousands of French and American troops who passed through the area in 1781 on their way to Yorktown, Virginia. That decisive campaign ended with the British surrender on October 19, 1781, securing victory in the American Revolution.
Manville is one of approximately 200 municipalities across nine states and the District of Columbia recognized by the National Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route Association
(W3R-US) as “Victory Towns” — communities that witnessed the historic march to Yorktown.
The unveiling took place on a date rich with meaning: May 4 marked the 248th anniversary of the Continental Congress formally ratifying the alliance with France. That alliance brought crucial French troops, officers, sailors, ships, supplies, and support to General George Washington’s Continental Army.
W3R-US Victory Towns 250 Project Director Brad Fay emphasized the importance of that alliance, noting that “without our first ally, France,” the American experiment in self-government would not have happened. Fay also highlighted Manville’s direct connection to the route: in August 1781, French troops crossed the Van Veghten Bridge over the Raritan River into present-day Manville.
“These are literally the towns that witnessed the troops as they were marching to what would be the victorious moment for the Americans,” said Fay.
Manville Mayor Richard Onderko called the unveiling “a huge honor” and said the marker gives the borough an opportunity to take pride in its history while helping educate residents and visitors as the nation prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence.
The event also drew regional media attention, including coverage from PIX11 (see the full video at the top of this article), which highlighted Manville’s role as the first New Jersey town on the Victory Trail to erect a historical marker. The coverage offers a timely opportunity to share the broader Victory Town story and encourage other communities along the route to recognize their own place in this nationally significant history.
Additional Victory Town markers are expected to be unveiled in Franklin, Montgomery, and Rocky Hill in the coming months.
As W3R-US continues this work leading into America’s 250th anniversary, Manville’s marker stands as both a tribute to the past and an invitation to other communities along the route.
Do you live in a Victory Town? If so, your town could have a marker like this one. Click the link below to explore the list of Victory Towns and learn how your community can help tell the story of the march that won the American Revolution.
