On Memorial Day, we honor those brave heroes who stood on the “Wall of Freedom” and paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

The first Memorial Day dates to the Civil War era, when a group of Southern women decorated the graves of soldiers from both the Confederate and Union Armies who died in battle. The first national memorial observance was in May 1868. In 1873, New York was the first state to legalize the holiday, and by 1890, all the Northern states celebrated Memorial Day on May 30. In 1971, the observance date was changed to the last Monday in May.

In World War I, 116,516 troops died for our country, and 405,399 gave their lives in World War II. The Korean War took 33,686 heroes, and in Vietnam, 50,209 paid the ultimate price. The number of American troops who have died fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan totals over 7,000.

One of the more compelling tributes to our fallen troops is the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. In 1988, I made my first visit to “The Wall,” and it was quite an emotional experience. Some visitors knelt in prayer, some left tokens of remembrance, while others sketched the names of their loved ones onto a piece of paper.

The names on “The Wall” are arranged in the order in which they were taken from us by date, and within each date, the names are alphabetized. There are three sets of fathers and sons honored, and 31 sets of brothers. Almost 4,000 were just 22 or younger on the Memorial, and 8,283 were only 19 years old. The largest age group taken was 18 years old and numbered 33,103. Twelve troops were only 17, five were only 16 and one soldier was only 15.

On their first day in Vietnam, 997 troops lost their lives, while 1,448 were killed on their last day of service there.

For many, Memorial Day marks the unofficial beginning of summer. For others, it is a day for barbecues, picnics, and parades. For all of us, it should be a day to honor those Americans who gave their lives for our country.

Please join us for the Annual Kirkwood Memorial Day Parade and Service led by the Voorhees Township Fire Department. The parade will start at 11 AM from the former Carriage House Restaurant located at 1219 Kirkwood-Gibbsboro Road. It will proceed down Gibbsboro Road and turn right onto Walnut Avenue, left onto Second Avenue, right onto Chestnut Avenue, and right onto Burnt Mill Road, ending at the Veterans Memorial adjacent to the Kirkwood Fire Station, where the wreath ceremony and memorial service will start at 11:30 AM. Special thanks to Terri and Vaughn Vandegrift for organizing this community tradition.

Honor our fallen heroes by enjoying barbecues, parades and picnics. Honor them by embracing your family. Honor them by cherishing your freedom. They would have wanted it that way.

 

** The summer hours for the Voorhees Town Hall will be in effect from Tuesday, May 26, to Tuesday, September 8. The Township offices will be open Monday through Thursday from 8 AM to 5:30 PM and will be closed on Fridays.

** Voorhees Township is proud to support the Animal Welfare Association’s Paws & Feet 5K and Doggie Fun Day on Saturday, May 30, at Cooper River Park, from 9 AM to 2 PM. The event will offer fun for the entire family, including local small business vendors, children’s activities, food and beverages from local favorites, and live music by Tell All Your Friends from 12 PM to 2 PM. There will be activities taking place throughout the day for all ages. For more information, please reach out to the Animal Welfare Association.

** Our Summer Concert Series kicks off on June 25 at Connolly Park at 7 PM with the band, Gilligan Yacht Rock. Join us for an evening of live music and community fun. Bring your blankets and chairs to relax and enjoy the show. Food trucks and Courtyard Pub will be available on-site. Parking and admission are free. Please note that the dog park will be closed during the event. For more information, please visit the Township social media platforms.

** Voorhees Township is hosting a Property Tax Relief Filing event on Thursday, August 13, from 10 AM to 1 PM at Lion’s Lake. Residents aged 65 and over, or those receiving Social Security Disability benefits, are invited to meet with a tax division representative for assistance with filing their application for the Senior Freeze, Anchor and Stay NJ program. This filing session will focus on the blue 2025 Form PAS-1 booklet you received in the mail. Please bring the following items: Photo ID, Social Security number, Income documentation, Property tax totals billed for both 2024 and 2025. No appointments are necessary; this is a first-come, first-served event, and you do not need to be a Voorhees resident. More information can be found here: https://www.nj.gov/treasury/taxation/relief.shtml

 

** Voorhees Township is once again partnering with Morey’s Piers to offer discounted tickets for their amusement piers located on the Boardwalk in Wildwood, NJ. Tickets may be obtained in person from the office of the Voorhees Township Clerk at (856) 429-7757 and are payable by cash only. Tickets are available to residents and non-residents. For more information, contact the Clerk’s office.