By Peter Sclafani and Gene Robbins
Veterans and their spouses crowded into the municipal building Saturday morning to begin the Memorial Day weekend ceremonies with a breakfast, speeches and the “roll call” of veterans.
Later, many moved to ride, walk or watch the annual parade to its end at the municipal complex’s Garden of Honor.
At the breakfast, veterans wore shirts and caps proudly brandishing their branch of the service.
”I get more comments about this event than any other,” said Township Committeeman Doug Tomson, looking over the crowd. “People tell me it’s a nice event and ask if we’re going to do it again. I think it goes back to our commitment to soldiers.”
John Stamler, who served in the Air Force in the late 1970s, was attending his first breakfast. He said he came from a big family with little money, and he felt lucky to be one of the last to get full benefits under the GI Bill. He went on to a career at Dun & Bradstreet and now IBM, he said.
”All vets feel kids should do one or two years of service because of the growing-up factor and the responsibility thrown at you,” he said. “You grow up fast in boot camp you have no choice.”
Rep. Leonard Lance, who represents the area in Congress, reminded the estimated 225 in attendance that the purpose of the day was for commemoration, not celebration. He presented each of the grand marshals, Philip J. Gentile and his son, Col. Philip D. Gentile, with a flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol dome.
The Rev. Timothy Wolf of the New Horizon Christian Fellowship reminded the gathering that John 15:13 said “Greater love has no man than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
One by one, veterans were invited to identify themselves, branch and era of service and to recall fallen friends.
Major Jon Lapidow noted he had kept an empty seat at his table for his father, Col. Stan Lapidow, who died in the past year. Donald Morgan used his turn at the microphone to chastise officials for doing too little to provide prosthetics for wounded soldiers.
Chris Conroy remembered his son, Capt. John Conroy, who had served two tours in Kuwait and Iraq and one in Africa and had returned in January from Afghanistan. He now was assigned as an instructor pilot in Mississippi.
In the parade, olive drab green painted military vehicles slowly made their way down New Amwell Road.
The Police Department’s Honor and Color Guard led the march. Behind it, veterans encompassing the period from the Korean War to the Iraqi Conflict walked side by side.
A convoy of classic American cars decorated with the Stars and Stripes rumbled down the streets. Children from Scout groups and recreation sports teams walked in the route and tossed candy to children along the curb.
Cheering spectators holding American flags and wearing red, white and blue lined the streets.
The parade’s co-grand marshals exemplified the military tradition of one Hillsborough family. Both father and son have served in the Marines.
In his remarks, Mr. Gentile challenged the audience to do something that servicemen and women do every day.
”If you have fallen heroes in your family, don’t let their memories die,” he said.
Col. Gentile, who serves in the Pentagon, graduated from Hillsborough High School in 1979.
The colonel remembered one soldier, named Trevor, who died while serving. When push came to shove, he volunteered for an infantry division in Iraq so another soldier, perhaps one with children and a family, could be spared from harm’s way, the colonel said.
Sacrifice is the way to keep freedom, Col. Gentile said, adding, “Our veterans are not the key story of today. It’s the fallen.”
Community groups presented 10 wreaths in honor of those who have died in the name of freedom.
After the last wreath was placed in front of the Garden of Honor, Justin Ploskonka from the high school band played taps, and the police honor guard fired a gun salute.
”It is the fallen that cannot speak,” Col. Gentile said. “We must remember them. Semper Fi.”

