9/11, POW, MIA, 'Moving Wall' Tributes Part Of Sussex County Sept. 11 Remembrances

SUSSEX COUNTY, NJ — There were over 58,000 people that lost their lives serving during the Vietnam War who will be remembered this coming weekend, along with the nearly 3,000 who lost their lives to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

On Thursday, members of Sussex Elks Lodge 2288, Branchville American Legion Riders Post 157 and Franklin American Legion Riders Post 132, led the procession for the “Moving Wall,” a replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall, throughout Sussex County.

After making its way to schools countywide for students to see including at Newton High School, Andover’s Long Pond School, Reverend Brown and Pope John in Sparta, Sparta High School, Sparta Middle School, Ogdensburg School, Hardyston Elementary School, Franklin Borough School, Hamburg Borough School, the Vernon Township Schools and Wantage School, the Wall stopped at its temporary home for the next few days at Woodbourne Park in Wantage.

While in Vernon, the group honored Mayor Howard Burrell, a Vietnam Veteran and lifetime member of the Vietnam Veterans of America.

According to Rick Merchant of Warriors’ Watch Riders NNJ, there are several half-size replica walls, like the one in Washington D.C., making their way to different destinations throughout the country. With a five-year waiting list to have brought it to Woodbourne Park, Merchant told Patch the wall replica in Sussex County was previously in Massachusetts, arriving next in Mahwah before it arrived to the county.

While at Woodbourne Park, the wall replica will be available for viewing daily from dawn until dusk through Sept. 12, before it leaves the area.

On Sept. 10 at the park on 145 Sherman Ridge Road, a 9/11 Ceremony is planned for 7 p.m. On Sept. 11 at 2 p.m., the grand opening is scheduled and then on Sept. 12, a POW/MIA ceremony is expected to take place at 1 p.m.

Contact SussexElks2288@gmail.com with questions about the Moving Wall events.

Sussex County Community College Sept. 11 Ceremony

Each year, a ceremony takes place at Sussex County Community College’s 9/11 Memorial, with the 20th anniversary remembrance at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

SCCC Veteran Services Coordinator Jay Christy, who joined the Army in 2001, completed four deployments and was an Airborne Infantryman and Non-Commissioned Officer for 13 years, is planning to be the event’s keynote speaker, according to a news release from the college.

The Sheriff’s Honor Guard, local police and fire departments, vocalists and bagpipers, will take part in the ceremony, which includes a wreath-laying. For questions, contact Newton Police Patrolman Mahir Kaylani, PBA Delegate for PBA Local #138, the group that organizes the event, at 973-383-2525.

RELATED: 20th Anniversary 9/11 Ceremony Planned In Sparta
RELATED: ‘Survivor Tree’ To Be Dedicated In Hopatcong On Sept. 11

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.