PRINCETON: Memorial Day with observed pomp and ceremony

By Victoria Hurley-Schubert, Staff Writer
   Tears rolled down the face of Joe Renda as he listened to the Princeton Girl Choir sing the “Star Spangled Banner” at a wreath-laying ceremony in honor of Memorial Day at Princeton Borough Hall on Saturday morning.
   There were few dry eyes after a bugler finished “Taps” and the names of those killed in action from the area this year were read before the wreath was laid.
   ”Today is about remembering those generations past and present who faced their own equally difficult challenges,” said Chief Master Sgt. Warren Wofford, USAF Command Chief, 87th Air Base Wing, Joint Base McGuire-Dix- Lakehurst, when speaking at the ceremony. “It’s about that group of Americans who served faithfully, honorably and selflessly, regardless of which party was in office or whether the war they fought was popular or not.”
   ”Their work is the most important work in America,” said Mr. Renda, a Princeton man who was wearing a shirt honoring his best friend, Capt. David C. Cross, a fallen Marine in Joint Task Force Six, as he wiped his face as the ceremony closed.
   A special veteran, 92-year-old Helen Dudzak Neidinger, a New Jersey woman who served in the Army Nursing Corps from 1940 to 1945, had the honor of laying the wreath at the George Washington monument.
   ”Always remember that Memorial Day is most importantly a day of national awareness, of remembrance for America’s fallen and their profound contributions made to securing our nation’s freedom,” said Sgt. Wofford. “To continue the Spirit of Princeton Memorial Day parade, to visit cemeteries, to observe proper flag protocol and to mark a moment of silence as part of the National Moment of Remembrance each Memorial Day.”
   After the annual parade down Nassau Street that featured community organizations, area children, local veterans and the wreath-laying, about 40 people gathered at the Suzanne Paterson Center after the ceremony to pack care packages for soldiers serving in Afghanistan and Iraq for Operation Shoebox.
   Operation Shoebox is a nonprofit organization that collects items, packages and sends them to soldiers overseas.
   ”This makes the holiday meaningful,” said Sue Lempert, as she got in line to pack a toiletry kit.
   Many children were also helping, feeling it was their patriotic duty.
   ”It’s nice to take time out of your day,” said 10-year-old Grace Sheppard of Princeton Township. “If you’ve got nothing to do and skip it, it’s kind of sad. Memorial Day is honoring our troops at war and our country itself.”
   ”Every war the soldiers go out to defend our freedom,” added her 7-year-old brother Simon Sheppard.
   ”When these veterans are here today, they’re marching for those that aren’t here today,” said Teena Cahill, a member of Spirit of Princeton committee as she opened the parade and the day’s festivities.
   Ms. Neidinger was driven along the parade route in a 1942 Willy Jeep restored by Trevor Harms, a Princeton-area veteran of the 69th Armored Battalion during Operation Desert Storm.
   The parade also featured local veterans who served in World War II, Vietnam and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
   The parade drew people from all over the area, crowding Nassau Street.
   Children danced on the curbs and waved flags as the bands played.
   ”The best part is the music,” said Bonnie Knigge of Monmouth Junction. “It’s a throwback to down home. It’s a nice thing. In this day and age, it’s nice to have this type of thing.”
   Vanessa Mast of West Windsor, who was attending for her second year, loves “all the history that goes with it and seeing the kids involved with the community.”
   For local veterans, the parade was meaningful on many levels.
   ”A lot of guys didn’t come home, that’s what it’s all about,” said Jim McIntyre, a Korean War veteran from Monroe. “This day is for them, we honor our fallen heroes.”
   ”This is the only thing we can do on Memorial Day is come out and honor them,” added his wife, Beatrice McIntyre.