About 100 people gathered distanced outside the South Brunswick Public Library on April 3 to honor former Mayor Christopher J. Killmurray.
Members of the South Brunswick Police Department stood along Kingston Lane, flashing lights on police vehicles behind them, paying homage to the longtime councilman and library board member who passed away in April 2018.
Among the guests who witnessed the dedication ceremony for the Christopher J. Killmurray Building were Killmurray’s parents Francis and Marilyn, his widow Karen and his four children, Conor, Anna Rose, Bridget and Patrick.
Several months ago, the Township Council and Library Board of Trustees voted unanimously to name the library in honor of Killmurray just as state funding was approved for multifaceted library building construction project. Completion is anticipated in 2023.
The one-hour event was ushered in with bagpipes, the national anthem and the South Brunswick Honor Guard salute.
Library Director Christopher Carbone welcomed the guests. An invocation was led by the Father Rev. Charles O’Connor, pastor of the St. Cecilia Church in Monmouth Junction. Library Board President Muhammad Ashraf remembered Chris Killmurray the time many times they worked together for the mutual benefit of the library.
Mayor Charles Carley joked that his fellow civic servant would likely have not enjoyed begin the focus of such an event. Instead, Carley said, “Chris was a helper,” preferring to work behind the scenes.
Bouquets and plaques were presented to the Killmurray family and then his two sons helped unveil the new sign that now bears the Killmurray name.
Virginia Kraft sang The Irish Blessing to conclude the ceremony, followed by the farewell by the Honor Guard and bagpipes.
- This article was submitted by the South Brunswick Public Library.