Pay Tribute To Local Veterans At Long Valley’s Memorial Day Celebration

LONG VALLEY, NJ — Planning is underway for Washington Township's Memorial Day Ceremony, offering the community an opportunity to come together and honor its veterans.

Washington Township Recreation will host the annual Memorial Day ceremony, inviting residents to join local officials in honoring fallen veterans both within the community and nationwide. The ceremony will take place on May 24.

The event will begin at 12 p.m. at the War Memorial Site in Rock Spring Park, located at 35 East Springtown Road in Long Valley, and will be held rain or shine.

The American Veterans Association of Washington Township will co-host the annual ceremony, with First Lieutenant Timothy E. Fallon, USMC (Ret.), serving as the keynote speaker this year.

"Let us come together to pay tribute to our veterans and fallen heroes, ensuring their legacy is never forgotten," township officials said.

On the day of the event, Rock Spring Park will be reserved exclusively for the ceremony and closed to other activities, officials added.

Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, dates back to 1868 when General John A. Logan called for a national day of remembrance to honor Union soldiers who died in the Civil War, according to History.com.

Over time, the name Memorial Day became more widely used, and in 1971, it was officially declared a federal holiday.

Each year, a National Moment of Remembrance is observed at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day. No matter where they are or what they’re doing, Americans are encouraged to pause for one minute of silence to honor the military personnel who gave their lives in service to the country.

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, 3 p.m. was chosen because it’s a time when many Americans are enjoying the freedoms the holiday represents.