Honor Local Veterans At Long Valley's Memorial Day Celebration

LONG VALLEY, NJ — Washington Township's Memorial Day Ceremony has been announced for 2023. This year's ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 27.

Washington Township Recreation will be hosting the annual ceremony, and residents are invited to join city officials in honoring fallen veterans in the community and across the country.

The event begins at 12 p.m. at Rock Spring Park’s War Memorial Site in Long Valley and will take place rain or shine.

The American Veterans Association of Washington Township Post 1776 will co-host the annual ceremony. The keynote address will be given by John Krickus, Commissioner Director of Morris County.

Krickus previously served for 12 years on the Washington Township Committee, including three years as mayor.

While on the Washington Township Committee, he was involved in efforts to preserve 4,000 acres of farmland and 14,000 acres of open space, which helped to preserve the rural and historic character of Washington Township's Long Valley and Schooley's Mountain sections.

Krickus is a Drew University graduate with a BA in Economics and Political Science who served in the United States Marine Corps Reserves. He graduated from Lehigh University with an MBA and worked as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in New Jersey.

He was born and raised in Madison but now resides in Long Valley with his wife Carolyn, where they raised their two daughters, Kelly and Casey.

"This Memorial Day, we remember the brave men and women who sacrifice in defense of our country. It also marks the 30th anniversary of Jamie Smith," officials said.

Smith is one of Long Valley’s hometown heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice during "Operation Restore Hope" in Mogadishu, Somalia, on Oct. 3, 1993.

Smith's story was one of the inspirations for the film "Black Hawk Down," in which two Black Hawk helicopters, expected to complete a mission in about an hour, were shot down over hostile territory, and Smith was one of the Rangers who went into danger to assist.

In 2013, two decades after he was killed, Cpl. James Smith Drive was named in his memory, near Rock Spring Park.

For any questions regarding the Memorial Day event, contact the recreation office at (908) 876-5941.