Livingston Community Honors Vets on Memorial Day Despite Cancellation of Annual Parade – TAPinto.net

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Led by the Commanders of Jewish War Veterans Post 740, American Legion Post 201 and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2856, a ceremony commemorating the service of Livingston’s World War II, Korean War and Vietnam-era veterans attracted residents of all ages, local first responders, family members of former military personnel and more to the Livingston Memorial Oval on Monday morning.

Despite the cancellation of the annual Memorial Day Parade, there was a large crowd at Livingston’s War Memorial Park to hear the speeches and musical performances that were also streamed live on Facebook for those unable to attend in person.

“They always say that freedom is not free, and Livingston has veterans that walk among us every day that we can thank for that,” said Mayor Shawn Klein, who was joined at the event by his fellow township council members, Township Manager Barry Lewis, Deputy Township Manager Russell Jones and Essex County Commissioner Patricia Sebold. “The entire council makes every effort to go to every single veterans event that we can.

“We have such deep, deep respect for their effort and for their sacrifice, and because we spend so much time with them, we know them and we consider them to be friends of ours. You cannot overstate their contribution to our country being what it is, and it’s important that we be very mindful of that and try to support them wherever we can.”

As a guest speaker at Monday’s ceremony, U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Gurmeet Grewal expressed gratitude toward the current township council for adopting a resolution to proclaim the Township of Livingston as a certified “Veteran-Friendly Municipality” and the community at-large for recognizing Memorial Day with “the significance it deserves.”

“As Cpt. Aaron Kletzing said, ‘For those of us who have worn the military uniform, Memorial Day reminds us of the things we’ve fought for, those we’ve lost and the impact our efforts may have had on the people we meant to serve and the missions we meant to complete,’” said Grewal, who also spoke about the sacrifice of the nation’s armed services and shared his personal experience of losing a fellow U.S. Army sergeant to sniper fire while on a medical supply run. “Please remember where this [loss] came from—a sacrifice of selfless service and a decision with unforeseen consequences. Whether for war or for peace, whether by draft or by volunteer, they all wore our nation’s best uniform, and they were the best that our country could offer.”

Additional appearances at the event included WWII vet Hyman Freeman Fisher, who was named Livingston’s 2021 Grand Marshall; members the Livingston High School marching band, who played “The Star-Spangled Banner”; Rev. Jose Erlito Ebron from St. Raphael, gave the invocation; Rabbi Thomas Rowan, chaplain/director of pastoral care at Saint Barnabas Medical Center, who said a special prayer for those who gave their lives for the American people; and more.  

Klein also read a letter to the community from Sen. Cory Booker, who stated that despite their many backgrounds, beliefs and life journeys, all veterans share a “selfless love” for their country that enabled them to perform the actions necessary to allow Americans to “drink deeply from wells of liberty and freedom.”

In addition to commemorating America’s fallen military personnel “for their incredible valor and integrity,” Booker also urged community members to remember the families of those veterans as they honor their “beloved children, loyal siblings, cherished parents and devoted spouses” on Memorial Day.

“We recognize the profound sacrifice that you have also made and offer our unyielding love and support,” he said in his letter to the Livingston community. “Although no words can replace the grief of losing a loved one, you’re repaying a debt of gratitude that we owe you. Know that a grateful nation stands alongside you this Memorial Day to pay tribute to the precious souls that were taken from us too soon.”

At the culmination of the ceremony, a series of gunfire from the VFW rifle squad led into instrumental renditions of “Taps” by resident trumpeter Timothy Griffin and “Amazing Grace” by area bagpiper Joseph McGonigal.