| There have been plenty of events this long holiday weekend to honor the service of our military. Elected officials and candidates have and will participate in ceremonies, events and parades to commemorate the service, but perhaps the most significant occurs today when our National Guard troops begin to return home from Iraq.
 Sergeant Christian Bueno-Galdos, who was among five gunned down on May 11 and was laid to rest on Saturday, will have a headstone bearing his name dedicated at the Hayden Heights Veterans War Memorial today. The New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Foundation is holding its Memorial Day ceremony at the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial in Holmdel Township.
Thousands gathered at the state Memorial Day ceremony at Brig. Gen. W illiam C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery on Provinceline Road in North Hanover on Saturday to remember the sacrifices made.Towns throughout Salem County planned to hold observances to mark Memorial Day. Along with individual events in municipalities, they had a countywide remembrance ceremony at the Salem County Veterans Cemetery in Pilesgrove Township. At the cemetery, following the memorial service, officials dedicated the new committal shelter there.
 Governor Corzine and Major General Glenn Rieth attended the Department of Military & Veteran's Affairs Annual Memorial Day Ceremony at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veteran's Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown, N.J. (Thank you to Tim Larsen in the Governor's office for some great photos)
On Saturday in Newark, we saw Mayor Cory A. Booker, Congressman Payne, Assemblywoman Tucker, G.I. Go Fund Executive Director Jack Fanous, other City dignitaries, and Newark veterans observe Memorial Day and honor the City's fallen warriors with a flag raising at City Hill: "We will welcome our brothers and sisters home with more than hugs and pats on the back. We will welcome them home with actions and deeds," Mayor Booker said. "The men and women from Newark who have worn our country's uniform and sacrificed their lives paid the highest price for the freedoms and liberties we enjoy. We must remember their sacrifice and the values they manifested in their lives - courage, honor, and commitment to country," The Go fund sounds like a pretty good initiative as the partnership connects Newark veterans of all generations to health care, job training, career development, and benefits programs. The Courier Post has created an interactive map of South Jersey War Memorials. The Daily Record has a listing of events and parades in Morris County. Senator Menendez in his statement honored the veterans but focused on what is being done by Congress to assist:In Congress, we are working to reverse shortcomings in our Veterans Affairs system that became painfully evident since the beginning of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We are also working to implement responsible foreign policy. We have passed into law a GI Bill for the 21st Century that allows our servicemen and women to get quality educations. As part of the economic recovery package this year, we made investments in VA medical facilities and cemeteries, in a more efficient Veterans benefits and services system and in supporting Veterans and their survivors during this economic crisis. Personally, I have championed investments in State Veterans Cemeteries to ensure that the Greatest Generation has respectable final resting places. These are just some of the actions we are taking and will continue to take to support our troops and veterans. They deserve nothing less. While that all sounds great and I appreciate his efforts, everyone acknowledges that much more has to be done. There are numerous challenges facing our returning veterans that make it home safely. I'm sure there are plenty more events and ceremonies going on in the state that I wasn't able to mention, but are no less significant. Thank you to our military members, their family and friends for their sacrifices on this Memorial Day. |
