Bordentown Township officials, dignitaries, service members, veterans and members of the community gathered Memorial Day to pay solemn tribute to the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
The annual ceremony was held at the Bordentown Cemetery, 210 Crosswicks Road.
Veterans Advisory Committee Chairman Bryan Branson served as emcee for the program, which featured remarks from Mayor Eric Holliday, New Jersey State Sen. Troy Singleton, Assemblywoman Carol A. Murphy, and Assemblyman Balvir Singh.
Captain James B. Howell, prospective commanding officer of Naval Support Activity Lakehurst, delivered the keynote address. Howell brings decades of leadership and distinguished military service, including multiple deployments and strategic command roles in both Europe and Africa, officials said.
Also on hand were Burlington County Sheriff James H. Kostoplis, Burlington County Commissioner Randy Brolo and Deacon Tom Shea of Mary Mother of the Church Parish in Bordentown.
The ceremony also featured patriotic performances by vocalist Aidan Gould, a flag raising by members of the Veterans Advisory Committee (VAC), and a wreath-laying tribute led by the Township Committee, VAC members, and local veterans organizations including the Elks Lodge No. 2085, American Legion Post No. 26, Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 28 F&AM, Knights of Columbus Council 570, and VFW No. 291 Yardville.
Members of Boy Scouts Troop No. 13 and Cub Scouts Pack No. 65 were also on hand during the ceremony.
Memorial Day, initially referred to as Decoration Day, was observed by many communities after the Civil War, when the nation suffered more than 620,000 military deaths, roughly 2% of the total population at the time. Today Memorial Day is now designated as an annual day of remembrance to honor all those who have died in service to the United States during peach and war, according to National Archives.
