Politics & Government

New Memorial Day Speaker Named Amid Controversy

New speaker replaces former Marine who frequently criticized the township council

A former top official at the state Army National Guard has been selected to replace an Iraq war veteran from Teaneck as the town's Memorial Day speaker, NorthJersey.com reported.

John McGilchrist, chairman of the town's Patriotic Observance Advisory Board, initially invited Jason Castle, a resident and former Marine, to speak at the event. Township Manager William Broughton said he later , Patch reported.

Castle is a frequent critic of the governing body and township administration, and is co-chair of Teaneck 2020, a group affiliated with former Councilwoman Barbara Toffler, who often clashed with council members and the town manager.

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The new speaker, Jorge J. Martinez, retired in 2011 as assistant adjutant general with the New Jersey Army National Guard. Martinez emigrated from Cuba in 1968. 

He commanded the largest unit in the New Jersey National Guard and spent 32 years with the service, according to Guardlife, a military publication.

Find out what's happening in Teaneckfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

A group of Teaneck residents gathered Monday to work on a petition demanding, in part, that the council apologize to Castle and invite him back to speak. 

 

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