SPECIAL MEMORIAL DAY INTRODUCTION

We, as a nation and throughout the world, are in tragic and hard times, but  keep in mind that we, throughout mankind’s existence, have risen and overcome challenging times such as this.

We are ALL in this together. Use common sense, help others: BETTER DAYS ARE COMING! 

Keeping those very words (“better days are coming”) in mind, be thankful for LIFE. Because of that very word, LIFE, you will be around to see the BETTER DAYS.

Our Memorial Day honorees gave their lives and never had that opportunity!

Memorial Day: a time to REMEMBER AND HONOR. To remember and honor those that made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives maintaining and protecting our freedom! 

MEMORIAL DAY is also the traditional kickoff for the summer season, but, alas, this year will not be anywhere near normal.

Let us remember those that did not survive this pandemic and their families!  Let us be resolved to do all we can to bring this tragedy to an end and return to better times!!

STORY BEHIND PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Driving around looking for photos to be part of my Memorial Day message, I was heading toward the Civil War Memorial in Hackettstown. I’ve noticed Hackettstown has flags draped on its light poles all along Main Street (US-46) and they look very nice! 

I pass by the old Presbyterian Church and Cemetery and notice one of those flag draped posts there. I couldn’t stop, but wondering if this might be a nice photo!  Continue on to photograph the Civil War Memorial and return to the old Churchyard. 

This photo aligns up pretty nice, flag draped pole, historical sign about the cemetery mounted on the large tree with the graveyard as a backdrop and the church off to the left. 

DID YOU KNOW??  There are 20 Revolutionary War soldiers buried in Hackettstown Presbyterian Church’s cemetery, plus 12 soldiers from the War of 1812! 

The Civil War Memorial at Hackettstown is fairly new. It was a replacement; the original monument was torn down to make room for the new alignment for Route-46 years ago. 

My photo is taken from the porch of David’s Country Inn.  Follow the link for the story behind the old and new ‘Billy Yank’ Civil War Statue.

Last year’s Photo of the Week for Memorial Day was the Warren County War Memorial, located just outside the historic Warren County Court House in Belvidere.  A truly stirring memorial consisting of numerous flags, monuments and statues celebrating Freedom, it’s a solemn reminder the price paid. It includes names of the men and women from Warren County, who have made the ultimate sacrifice. 

It sits in an appropriate location!  The historic Court House, built in 1826, as a backdrop, has been overseeing the adjudication of justice and thus protecting many of those very freedoms so valiantly fought for by these fallen heroes!! 

A beautiful public park sits across the street from the Court House and Memorial, offering a serene setting of lush green under a towering canopy of ancient tall trees.  All this, with an important observation, this site is located off a busy sidewalk and street, thus, always offering and sending a reminder that reaches many, even if they don’t stop for a formal visit!!  The setting offers a sense of Memorial Day – 365 days a year!! 

In addition to the photos here, please visit my Flickr site for additional photos. The photos I have chosen for this Memorial Day message will hopefully serve a dual purpose: to remind and to inform!!

First, I hope the photos will be a reminder that Memorial Day is a special time, a time for ALL of us to HONOR, REMEMBER and give a heartfelt THANK YOU to ALL the servicemen and women that made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country and preserving our freedom!! 

That very freedom has allowed us over our lifetimes to enjoy so many wonderful benefits and privilege. So, let us remember that many of these fallen were very young, and, thus, didn’t experience all of life’s wonders and joys!!

Secondly, I hope some of these photos will offer some information about some wonderful places to visit! I have labeled each photo to aid you in identifying what and where they are from!! 

At the above link, you will find three photos from my father’s war photos.  These are A-20 aircraft, medium attack bombers used in low level bombing and strafing raids.  The photos are from an attack against Japanese fuel depots.  My father mentioned that at those low levels and high speeds when you were hit you usually were gone!!  This struck A-20 is being given a final escort and salute by one of its fellow attack bombers!! 

There are also Fleet Week photos. The first ship is the USS New York, made from steel from the World Trade Center buildings.  The Merchant Marine Memorial is located along the Hudson River in Battery Park.  The Battleship New Jersey is located in the Delaware River in Camden, across from Philadelphia.  The old Cruiser Olympia is moored in Penn’s Landing, Philadelphia not far from Independence Center and our Liberty Bell!! 

The photo of the George Washington Bridge shows the largest free hanging flag in the world.  It is displayed for several days during certain holidays AND I may add is a stirring sight to see!!

The statue at Liberty State Park along the Hudson, the ship in the background was the Queen Elizabeth II on one of her maiden voyages, the largest passenger ship in the world at the time.  This is a great area to visit, Open Spaces, beautiful wide walkways along the harbor viewing the Statue of Liberty and New York City!!

The Memorial Arch at Valley Forge National Park, the NJ Korean War Memorial on the Board Walk at Atlantic City!!

Have a Great Memorial Day Weekend with your Family and Friends, take full advantage of all the wonderful opportunities afforded us by our Freedom, and Remember, Honor and be Thankful for that Freedom. THEY made the ultimate sacrifice for it!

Don’t forget, summer arrives officially, according to the calendar, on June 21st!! 

BE WELL – STAY WELL

Charlie Fineran

Charlie Fineran is Allamuchy’s Director of Open Space, Allamuchy Township Environmental Commission Chairman and Allamuchy Historical Society President.