May 30, 2021
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–Heavy rains could not stop the Mercer County, Memorial Day observance held at Greenwood Cemetery in Hamilton Township today.
Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes spoke about his family’s loss and importance of Memorial Day. Mr. Hughes stated that he has three brothers and some of his brothers never got to know his father due to a military plane crash in the Atlantic Ocean. He told that his mother got “the knock on the door” from a general and pastor that every military wife does not want to get. She received notice that her husband’s plane had gone down. It had been flying a route from Massachusetts to the Azores and then to Berlin. The plane was to bring a taste of democracy like that we know here, food, clothes, medicine and the parts of life we take for granted. He talked about how his father stood up every day and said this is going to be his job and he was going to be the one to provide that little level of democracy to a war torn town like Berlin. On that one particular day the plane went into the Atlantic Ocean and was never found or heard from again.
County Executive Hughes thanked all those who came out today to make sure the veterans know that this country is still great and will remain that way for many years to come.
Hamilton Township Mayor Jeff Martin, a U.S. Air Force veteran, delivered the keynote address at the event. Mayor Martin stated that we gather to honor the men and women of our armed forces, those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country and community. That is how our country was built by those who are willing to sacrifice for the greater good. From the American Revolution to the Middle East Conflicts over the last two decades countless Americans have answered the call to protect all of us, they have put service before self.
The mayor said, “As a veteran himself when you answer the call to serve you don’t know what is going to be presented in front of you. You don’t know what battle field you will go to, what call you will heed, what flight you will be on that you just hope that is routine and ends up not to be.
“Every flag you see in this cemetery represents someone who did not know what was going to be put in front of them, but answered that call, bravely with honor, with resolve, and the commitment the were answering their counties call to protect their families, to protect their loved ones back home.” Mayor Martin said
County Executive Hughes, Mayor Jeff Martin and the Senior Vice Commander of the VFW placed a wreath at the base of the flag pole in the Veteran’s section of the Greenwood Cemetery. A gun salute and TAPS was played at the conclusion of the ceremony.
Every year the Memorial Day observance is organized by the Mercer County Veterans Council and the Division of Veteran Services.
