Memorial Day Ceremony In Essex County Honors Fallen Soldiers

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Essex County officials held a solemn ceremony earlier this week to commemorate Memorial Day and honor fallen U.S. soldiers.

The county’s 2025 service took place on May 20 at the Armed Forces Memorial at Veterans Memorial Park in Newark.

Opened in September 2009, the 2.7-acre park and the Armed Forces Memorial are dedicated to the men and women who served as members in the U.S. military. The site has become a tranquil place for veterans to find solace in the community, officials say.

Attendees at the ceremony included Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr., Chief of Staff Phil Alagia, State Senator Renee Burgess, Assemblyman Michael Venezia, Prosecutor Ted Stephens, Senate Majority Leader and Deputy Chief of Staff Teresa Ruiz, Commissioner President Carlos Pomares, Essex County Veterans Advisory Board Chairwoman Lucy Del Gaudio who is an Army veteran and member of the Army National Guard, Register Juan Rivera who is a Marine veteran, Sheriff Amir Jones, Montclair Police Lt. Tyrone Williams who is a member of the Essex County Veterans Advisory Board, Prosecutor’s Chief Mitch McGuire, retired Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura who is an Army veteran, Navy veteran Bill Squires and Surrogate Alturrick Kenney.

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