Morris County honors veterans, remembers fallen soldiers at Memorial Day ceremony

MORRISTOWN — Brian Bergen admitted that he has felt conflicted about Memorial Day ceremonies in the years since returning from Iraq.

Bergen, a Republican assemblyman in New Jersey's 25th district and a West Point graduate, has watched soldiers tearfully say goodbye to loved ones as they prepared for deployment. Many of those soldiers never returned home, leading to painful reminders each May.

"There isn't a single day that goes by that I don't think that it's unfair that I'm here and they're not," Bergen said Wednesday during the Morris County Memorial Day observance outside the county courthouse. "Not one minute will ever pass where I can feel satisfied that I've truly earned their sacrifice."

Bergen encouraged attendees to remember those who gave their lives serving their country and strive to truly honor their memories this weekend. Ceremonies help by providing a place to pause and reflect, he said, but "they alone are not enough."

Wednesday's observance featured remarks and demonstrations by local officials and law enforcement personnel in remembrance of those lost. The ceremony also honored 16 Morris County veterans with Distinguished Service Medals in recognition of their military service.

John Krickus, Morris County Commissioner Director and a Marine Corps veteran, noted that service members often sacrifice decades of their lives to protect their country. Fallen soldiers miss out on "simple pleasures," like going for a walk and spending time with family, that many Americans take for granted, he said.

"Many never had a chance to marry, have children, enjoy the embrace of loved ones, the laughter of friends," Krickus said. "However, one can imagine that those who gave all would want us to fully embrace and celebrate the tremendous inheritance that they gave us."

After years of reflection, Bergen said he understands that no amount of ceremonies or memorials will be enough to commemorate those who died. Instead, the public can pay tribute simply by enjoying the liberties they fought so hard to preserve.

"The only true way to honor their sacrifice is to live a life worthy of the gift they've given us: the gift of freedom," Bergen said. "Each of us needs to make the most of every single day and live life to the fullest - always striving to improve, constantly making those around us and the world as a whole a better place."

Morris County Memorial Day events

MORRIS PLAINS — The borough's Memorial Day festivities will kick off at 9 a.m. Saturday with a brief service at Roberts Garden on Glenbrook Road. The 37th annual parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. and travel to the VFW Watnong Post 3401 on Tabor Road.

On Monday, Morris Plains invites residents to lay wreaths beginning at 7:30 a.m. at the municipal building. The borough will then hold a memorial service in front of the building at 10 a.m. before the annual parade to the Morristown Green.

DOVER — The annual parade will begin on Mondy at 10 a.m. and will march down Blackwell Street from Rutan Drive to Hurd Park. A ceremony to honor departed veterans will follow.

EAST HANOVER — The town will hold a wreath-laying ceremony Monday to memorialize "the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice." The event will be held at 10 a.m. in Town Square Park on Ridgedale Avenue.

HANOVER — Township Memorial Day events will kick off at 8:15 a.m. Monday with a wreath laying ceremony at the town hall. At 9:30 a.m., the parade will start at Whippany Park High School and proceed to American Legion Post 155 for another ceremony followed by refreshments.

MADISON — The annual celebration will kick off on Monday at 9 a.m. After a brief tribute at James Park, the parade route will follow Main Street to Prospect Street and Kings Road. A Memorial Day ceremony will then take place at the Hartley Dodge Memorial building. The festivities will include military veterans; police, fire, military and EMA vehicles; Boy and Girl scouts, bands, antique cars and a Revolutionary War re-enactment.

MONTVILLE — The township will honor fallen veterans at a ceremony at 11 a.m. at the Tank Monument in Community Park. General George Washington, who'll be joined by his white horse, "Blueskin," will speak about his soldiers and all veterans who have sacrificed their lives.

MORRISTOWN — The town's service on the Green will begin at approximately 11 a.m., following the processional that leaves from Morris Plains at 10:30 a.m. The ceremony will include remarks from guest speaker Jaechul Ahn, chairman of the World Peace Freedom United.

PARSIPPANY — The annual Memorial Day parade gets underway at noon Monday at the intersection of North Beverwyck Road and Katherine Drive. It will proceed down North Beverwyck Road before ending at the reviewing stand near Volunteers Park.

RANDOLPH — VFW Post 7333, located on Carrell Road in Randolph, invites the public to its annual Memorial Day tribute at 11 a.m. Monday to honor those who died while serving in the U.S. military.

ROCKAWAY TOWNSHIP — A parade will start at 11:30 a.m. Monday at Edith Drive and proceed down Fleetwood wo Mt. Hope Road, ending at Mt. Hope and McKinley Place.

ROXBURY — The parade kicks off at 10 a.m. Monday at the corner of Meeker Street and Hillside Avenue in Succasunna, near Roosevelt School. It will travel south and crosss over Route 10 before heading to the Horseshoe Lake recreationcomplex at 72 Eyland Ave and ending at the War Memorial on “the island." An 11 a.m. ceremony at the War Memorial will be led by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2833.

Kyle Morel is a local reporter covering Morris and Sussex counties.

Email: kmorel@njherald.com; Twitter: @KMorelNJH

This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Morris County NJ honors fallen soldiers at Memorial Day ceremony