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BORDENTOWN CITY: Community honors fallen hero

By Charley Falkenburg, Special Writer
   BORDENTOWN CITY —Two years ago on Jan. 12, residents Amy and Patrick Moore faced a parent’s worst nightmare: the death of their son, Benjamin G. Moore, who was killed in action while serving in Afghanistan.
   He was 23.
   As emotional agony gave way to acceptance, the Moore family wanted to create a symbol that forever memorialized the ultimate sacrifice their son — and other service men and women — gave defending American freedoms.
   Thus, the Honorary Member flag was born.
   Just two days after the second anniversary of their son’s death, the Moore couple stood before the Bordentown City Commission on Jan. 14 at the Carslake Community Center. Residents Brian Maugeri and Vince Torpey held open the Honorary Member flag in front of 20 people as Ms. Moore read an emotional speech of how the flag came to be and what it signified.
   She explained how its red field represented the blood spilled by the men and women who have served throughout America’s history. The white signified the purity of sacrifice. The blue star represented active service in military conflict.
   ”The gold star,” Ms. Moore began, her voice faltering. “The gold star signifies the ultimate sacrifice of a warrior in active service who will not return home.”
   After pausing to regain composure, she further explained the gold reflected the value of the life that was given, the folded flag represented the final tribute to an individual’s life, and the flame served as the eternal reminder of the spirit that burns on in the memory of those who knew him or her.
   June 2012, the Assembly unanimously passed bill A2029, which designated the Honorary Member flag as an official state flag. Two months later, the Senate followed suit by also unanimously voting in the flag’s favor. Last December, Gov. Chris Christie signed the bill, making it official. The next step for the Moore family is to have it be known as a national flag and symbol of recognition nationwide.
   Mr. Moore emphasized the flag was to be flown either under the U.S. flag and POW-MIA flag or by itself.
   ”This is, no way, is to take away from Old Glory’s stars and stripes,” Mr. Moore added.
   Mr. Moore and Ms. Moore, on behalf of the Army Specialist Benjamin G. Moore Hope Hose Humane Co. No. 1 Memorial Trust Fund, presented the City Commission with the Honorary Member flag. Ms. Moore asked the commission to accept the flag in remembrance of the man, who not only was their son, but a friend to many and Bordentown City’s hometown hero.
   Another Honorary Member flag was given to Bruce Throckmorton and John Wehrman of the Bordentown Veterans Memorial Committee. Ms. Moore requested it be flown at the Bordentown Veterans Memorial as well.
   ”It’s a place of honor most fitting as a national symbol of gratitude and a visible public reminder to all Americans, perpetually recognizing the sacrifice of our military fallen heroes and their families,” she told Mr. Throckmorton, chairman of the Bordentown Veterans Memorial Committee.
   Bordentown City Mayor James Lynch Jr. accepted the flag. The mayor said the city would create a frame for it and hang it in the room beside a picture of Benjamin Moore. Benjamin was named an honorary mayor of the city after he was killed through a proclamation issued by Mayor Lynch.
   The mayor told Benjamin’s mom and dad that the city would fly the Honorary Member flag on its flagpole.
   ”Benjamin had a significance in everyone’s heart, whether it was working through the EMS, being a citizen and, in some cases, just a good friend,” Mayor Lynch said. “When we said forever, we meant forever — we are not going to forget Ben.”