Members of the city’s Veterans Memorial Committee said they will reconsider its refusal to fly a flag honoring and remembering military personnel
By Amy Batista, Special Writer
BORDENTOWN CITY Members of the city’s Veterans Memorial Committee said they will reconsider its refusal to fly a flag honoring and remembering military personnel, including the late Army SPC Benjamin Moore.
The matter was raised again at the Feb. 10 City Commissioners meeting where committee Chairman Bruce Throckmorton apologized to the fallen soldier’s parents, specifically as it related to a letter regarding why the committee would not fly the flag before it had a chance to study it.
”We’ve studied what we believe is the flag code and have our opinion about what that means,” Mr. Throckmorton said. “But I’ve talked to Jimmy (Deputy Mayor James Lynch), and he asked us to reconsider it, and we’ll reconsider it and see if there’s a way we can work this out.”
He added he is sorry anyone would suggest the committee is not sympathetic “because what we’ve done for the last 15 years is about this.”
”I guess this process has been hurtful to everybody, but we certainly did not intend . . . for anyone who serves this country,” he added. “We’re here because we care.”
Mayor Lynch shared similar sentiments.
”It’s a shame it has gotten to the point, but my only thing is can we try and fix it?” the mayor said, adding he had spoken with Mr. Throckmorton several times that past weekend in regard to the situation.
SPC Moore’s mother, Amy Moore, of Robbinsville, sought to “to clear the air” during the public comment session.
”There has been mudslinging and false accusation going around on social media regarding the Honor and Remember Flag, the Veterans Committee and my family,” Ms. Moore said. “This entire situation has hurt us as a family and you as a community.”
She raised particular concerns regarding how certain media outlets had reported on the issue.
She outlined how the situation had unfolded with two Honor and Remember flags presented at a public meeting in January 2013.
”They were presented on behalf of the Army SPC Benjamin G. Moore of Hope Hose Humane Co. No. 1 Memorial Trust.” she said, adding it was the family’s way of thanking the residents and the City Commissioners for their support after her son was killed in Afghanistan in 2011.
City officials displayed the flag, which can be seen at Carslake Community Center. Another flag was presented to the Veterans Memorial Committee with a framed letter requesting the flag be flown at the memorial.
In a letter dated Jan. 22, 2013, Mr. Throckmorton stated, in part, “The committee will display this flag at the new Veterans Memorial.”
However, February, March and April went by with no word, and Ms. Moore began inquiring about the matter. She said in a letter that the committee expressed concerns ranging from questioning the Honor and Remember’s nonprofit organization status and its finances and income.
Another concern of the committee was where to fly the flag. Ms. Moore suggested expanding the memorial to include it while Mr. Throckmorton noted in a letter that “flags that should be allowed to fly at the memorial should consist of state and or federally approved flags and pertain to the monument.”
Terry Fearon, assistant president of the New Jersey Gold Star Mothers and Brick VFW 8867 Quartermaster, read a resolution that was voted on this past year at its state convention accepting the flag.
”It is in our nation’s best interest to promote awareness of American lives lost in defense of our country,” Mr. Fearon said. “The American flag is the main symbol promoting the aforementioned awareness. It shall never be replaced at any funerals, ceremonies, celebrations or event of any kind.
”The Honor and Remember Flag has been created by a Gold Star family out of the pain of the loss of their hero. It is only to be in additional remembrance and comfort for the Gold Star families while assisting the American flag heralding the call of freedom.”
Kathy Garcia, who said she served on the board of directors of the New Jersey Crime Victims’ Rights Coalition, said the back and forth for the Moore family is “really a re-victimization.”
”It’s harder for them now than it was in the beginning because, in the beginning, they were in shock, (and) they had all sorts of support,” Ms. Garcia said. “I understand this community was very supportive, but they need your support more now than they needed it then because all that support goes away.”
Ms. Garcia clarified she was not there to represent the family, which the Moore family verified.
Officials questioned Ms. Garcia further and asked whether she had made any threatening calls.
”Did you make a phone call to anyone last Thursday that told them if they did not change their position, you would jeopardize their career?” Mayor Malone asked.
”I called the Deputy Mayor (James Lynch) and the Master Sgt. (Christopher Hofrichter),” Ms. Garcia said, adding she spoke to the master sergeant as an advocate because “no family should be treated like this and gather information.”
Mayor Malone then asked why Ms. Garcia was there if she was not asked to do so by the Moore family.
”If she’s not interested or hasn’t expressed an interest in you advocating for her, then I don’t understand how you got involved,” Mayor Malone said. “You adding into it has only inflamed the situation, and I happen to have a lot of respect for Chris Hofrichter and his family.”
Mayor Malone noted it concerns him enough that what she “potentially did to be a criminal threat.”
”It may warrant us asking for special counsel for either prosecution reasons or civil reasons,” Mayor Malone said. “I only can imagine, having two sons, what Amy and Pat have gone through. I honestly and truly do not respect the fact that you interjected yourself, potentially threatened a person of one of our committees, and that’s something that I find as the mayor of a community when we have individuals who are appointed I just find that to be an abomination.”
Ms. Garcia denied threatening Master Sgt. Hofrichter.