Essex County Commemorates Memorial Day with Wreath-Laying Ceremony

NEWARK, NJ — A wreath laying ceremony commemorating Memorial Day was held in Essex County Veterans Memorial Park in Newark, which was opened in September 2009 along with the Essex County Armed Forces Memorial in order to honor the men and women who served as members in the United States military.

The memorial has since become a tranquil place for veterans to find solace and a constant reminder about the great contributions they have made to the country. Part of the memorial is a statue of Jorge Oliveira, an Essex County Sheriff’s Officer who was killed in action while serving in the Middle East.

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo hosted the ceremony, and is pictured above with (from left) Verona Mayor Kevin Ryan, NJ State Senator and Deputy Chief of Staff Teresa Ruiz, Newark DAV Commander Clarence Jackson, Sheriff Armando Fontoura, Freeholders Lebby Jones and Len Luciano, Deputy Chief of Staff William Payne, Chief of Staff Phil Alagia, South Orange Trustee and Freeholder Clerk Deborah Davis Ford, Newark Councilman Anibal Ramos, and Caldwell VFW member and Essex County Health Officer Michael Festa.