Vets to honor the fallen

Memorial Day plans will begin with American Legion flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremonies in Jamesburg and Monroe, followed by the borough’s annual parade.

By: Stephanie Brown
   Memorial Day will start off with a bang this year.
   Holiday events will begin Monday morning in Jamesburg with American Legion Star Post 127’s flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremonies, which will include the firing of a gun in salute of war veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.
   Memorial Day observances will begin in the borough with two flag raisings — one at 7 a.m. at Borough Hall, and another at 7:15 a.m. at the war memorial in Thompson Park — and continue with wreath-laying ceremonies at 7:30 a.m. at Fernwood Cemetery, 7:45 a.m. at Holy Trinity Cemetery, and 8 a.m. at St. James Cemetery.
   Monroe will also hold wreath-laying ceremonies at 8:30 a.m. at the Veteran’s Monument at Triangle Memorial on Spotswood-Englishtown Road/Monmouth Road and at 9:15 a.m. at the veterans monument at the Monroe Township Municipal Complex on Perrineville Road.
   The Jamesburg events are being organized by the Jamesburg Patriotic Committee, which was created last fall to oversee the event. At the final Patriotic Committee meeting before the holiday, members finalized plans for the solemn — but celebratory — day.
   The committee’s main focus was on the 123rd annual Memorial Day parade, which will begin at 10 a.m. sharp.
   "Spud used to be very tenacious about that, so that’s how we’re going to do it," committee member Allan Brown of Gandy & Brown Realty said Tuesday.
   Mr. Brown was referring to the late Henry J. "Spud" Dobenski Jr., a lifelong borough resident who, as commander of American Legion Star Post 127, planned and oversaw the borough’s annual Memorial Day Parade for some 30 years.
   With the loss of Mr. Dobenski last August, members of the community took over the responsibility for the parade and formed the Patriotic Committee — which held its first meeting Sept. 29 and members include Mr. Brown, Jamesburg Historical Association President Ron Becker, Councilwoman Barbara Carpenter, Councilman John Longo, Councilman Chris Maloney, Jamesburg Library board member Daria Ludas, and Jim Newmeyer of the Jamesburg Elks.
   "One person couldn’t do it anymore," said Stan Hoffman, member of the American Legion Star Post 127 and commander of the VFW 262 in Monroe.
   Mr. Dobenski will be honored during a ceremony held after the parade in Veterans Park, where the refurbished flagpole will be dedicated in his memory, Mr. Brown said.
   Overall, committee members said they anticipate a successful day, with about 35 groups marching in the parade, speeches from area politicians, and musical performances by local vocalists and the Grace M. Breckwedel Middle School band.
   Also, Mr. Becker said, the committee received $975 from 28 donors to help offset expenses.
   "This has been a learning experience for us," Ms. Ludas said.
   "And whatever doesn’t work, we’ll fix for next year," Ms. Carpenter added. "It will only get better."