The New Jersey Hall of Fame renamed and honored their newly redesigned Vauxhall service park area after the iconic R&B singer Whitney Houston earlier this month.
At the newly redesigned service area, guests are now greeted by a captivating and towering image of Whitney Houston, accompanied by a biography and a display of the platinum record she earned for her timeless song, “I Will Always Love You.” According to the press release, “the exhibit invites visitors to delve deeper into Whitney’s iconic career, showcasing not only her achievements but also quotes and compelling images on an interactive ‘Selfie Monitor,’ where visitors can pose for a photo alongside Whitney Houston or explore profiles of numerous other celebrated New Jersey Hall of Fame inductees.”
“This is another step in our ongoing mission to uphold outstanding New Jerseyans as we educate and inspire future generations to live their lives on purpose and realize their highest sense of self and for the greater good,” said Steve Edwards, President of the New Jersey Hall of Fame. “Through our exhibitions at service areas and transit terminals, our mobile museum, our school curriculum programs, and our upcoming Entertainment and Learning Center at American Dream this spring, we will tell the story of New Jersey heroes like Whitney Houston and the obstacles they overcame to be their best.”
Several public officials attended, including State Senator Joseph P. Cryan, the local state representative and original sponsor for the New Jersey Hall of Fame, and State Senator Patrick J. Diegnan, who led the effort to rename the parkway service areas after New Jersey Hall of Fame inductees. Newark Council Member-At-Large Rev. Louise Scott-Rountree introduced Pat Houston, representing the Estate of Whitney E. Houston.
“Whitney was the true definition of a Jersey girl,” said Pat Houston. “She loved New Jersey and her hometown. She was born, bred, and educated here. Whitney has traveled to six of the seven continents, and no matter where she visited, she always looked forward to returning home to Jersey. And with more than 400 awards and honors to her credits, I know she would be most proud of the Whitney E. Houston Garden Parkway Service area renamed in her honor.”