For us veterans, the month of May is a solemn month. Normally, all the veterans’ organizations would be out offering poppies in exchange for donations. A poppy represents a U.S. serviceman killed in action. These donations go into the Poppy Fund, and the money is used to aid veterans, their families and military members and their families.
This year the imposed restrictions severely limit our ability to get donations. I will be by the Omega Diner, 1337 Route 1, North Brunswick, on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to offer poppies to drive-up donors. I will be at the ShopRite on Renaissance Boulevard on May 20 and 21 offering drive-up service. Drive up donations will also be collected at Quick Chek, 1505 Route 1, and IHOP, 1431 Route 1, all North Brunswick.
We are veterans still serving veterans and our community. Stop by and get a poppy.
Our Memorial Day ceremony this year will probably be a virtual ceremony telecast over Channel 15. That is in the planning stage now.
Get a poppy and remember our heritage on Memorial Day.
Richard A. Pender is the senior vice commander of American Legion Post 459 in North Brunswick. He writes the occasional column for Newspaper Media Group. He can be reached at [email protected].