Annual holiday inspires reverence
By: Stephanie Brown
Veterans, their families and area residents are invited to attend ceremonies Saturday honoring the sacrifices of America’s veterans.
Memorial services will be held Saturday in both Jamesburg and Monroe. A poppy drive also will be held this weekend, in Monroe, to benefit veterans and their families.
American Legion Star Post 127 of Jamesburg, in conjunction with Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 262 of Monroe, will hold a Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. in Veterans’ Memorial Park in Jamesburg.
The events are timed to commemorate the signing of the cease-fire agreement that ended World War I in 1918. The cease-fire began on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of that year and commemorative events have been held at that time every year since; first as Armistice Day and, then beginning in 1954, as Veterans Day.
In Monroe, a wreath-laying ceremony will be held at 8:30 a.m. at the Veterans’ Monument at the Triangle Memorial on Spotswood-Englishtown Road. Another wreath-laying ceremony at the Veterans’ Monument at the Monroe Township Municipal Complex will follow at 9:15 a.m.
The Jewish War Veterans of Monroe Township Post 609 will be handing out the paper poppies for a donation today (Friday) and Sunday. Members will be at the Wawa on Applegarth and Stop & Shop in the Concordia Shopping Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today, and the Stop & Shop on Sunday, same hours.
Post Commander Elmer Schwartz said all proceeds go toward the post’s Veterans Fund. In the past, the post has used the fund to make contributions to the New Jersey Memorial Veterans Home in Menlo Park and the New Jersey National Guard Family Preparedness Council.

