Ceremonies Saturday to mark Veterans Day in Lawrence

By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
   The Mercer County World War I memorial, which is located outside the Municipal Building, will be rededicated Saturday morning at Lawrence Township’s annual Veterans Day observance.
   The 10 a.m. ceremony is sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3022 and American Legion Post 414, plus Lawrence Township, according to Steven Groeger, the township’s superintendent of Recreation.
   Mayor Mark Holmes will offer Veterans Day remarks, before turning over the event to Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes, who will rededicate the World War I memorial. The two elected officials and Charles Brothers Jr., commander of American Legion Post 414, will place a wreath at the monument.
   The monument, which lists names of 205 Mercer County residents who were killed during World War I, was originally placed on the corner of Franklin Corner Road and Brunswick Pike in 1920.
   It was moved to another site at the former Lawrence Public School No. 4, which was located on Brunswick Pike, several years later, Mr. Groeger said. The school was torn down and replaced with a strip shopping center.
   The monument was moved to its current location outside the Municipal Building in 1945. It is located opposite the front doors of the Municipal Building, underneath the flag pole.
   Mr. Groeger said the Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders will offer a presentation to former Lawrence resident James Hewitt, whose uncle was killed in action during World War I. There will be another presentation to descendants of Charles Conard, who is one of two Lawrence residents who were killed during the war.
   And in a final note, yellow ribbons will be tied to trees on the front lawn of the Municipal Building to honor five military personnel who have Lawrence ties and who are serving in the Middle East, Mr. Groeger said.