A celebration took place to honor crossing guards in Cranbury who helped students, parents and residents during the year.
“FLAG Jr. was happy to organize this event and show appreciation to these safety officers. There are nine crossing guards in Cranbury,” said Gavin Mavoides, founder of FLAG Jr. “They report to Lt. Giuseppe DeCiara and Crossing Guard Supervisor Denise Reilley.”
The Cranbury Crossing Guards honored were Richard Murphy, Edward Durner, Stacey Applegate, Jerry McCutcheon, Ervin Dove, Walter Butcher, Denise Reilley, Mark Nebbia, and Arthur Tracy.
The recognition occurred on June 11 at Heritage Park.
The celebration was organized by FLAG Jr., which stands for Front Line Appreciation Group, for youth in Cranbury. The group worked with local businesses, town officials and residents to thank the crossing guards.
They included Cranbury Pizza, Gil & Bert’s Ice Cream, Stults Farm, First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury, Police Chief Michael Owens, DeCiara, Township Committeewoman Evelyn Spann and Mayor Mike Ferrante.
Mavoides said the group focuses on finding ways to support front-line workers by giving young people a chance to support their community.
“I first created the group during the pandemic to help medical workers, but now it has grown with the support of the Helene Cody Foundation,” he said. “In addition to recognizing our crossing guards, we have thanked the Cranbury Police Department, medical workers at the Elms, Park Place Rehab Center, and Penn Medicine Princeton Health Hospital.”
Additionally, Mavoides said the support from local businesses and restaurants, town officials, school and residents has been great.
“Everyone I’ve approached has been excited to be involved and show appreciation for our frontline workers,” he said.