Montclair's annual Veterans Day service brings together residents from all walks of life to honor the millions of men and women who have served in the United States military.
Students, veterans, elected officials and others gathered on Monday morning at the World War I monument in Edgemont Park where Mayor Robert Jackson serving as Master of Ceremonies, began the program by reading from Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address”:
“The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
Find out what's happening in Montclairwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
In his remarks, Crawford Crews Post 251 Commander Darryl Collins spoke about the long and accomplished history of service by African-Americans. “We were there, we were always there,” Collins said.
Other participants included the Rev. Dr. Paul A. Leggett, Senior Pastor at Grace Presbyterian Church, who gave the invocation and benediction. Glenfield School students Samantha Van Siclen and Elias Kline participated by leading the pledge of America and speaking about the importance of honoring veterans respectively.
Find out what's happening in Montclairwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The Montclair Community Band also performed with members Frances Duffy singing the national anthem and Carl. B. Witzig playing “Taps.”
Representatives from local veterans organizations in attendance included the Crawford Crews American Legion Post 251, Lt. Vincent J. Russo American Legion Post 382, Disabled American Veterans and Daughters of the American Revolution Eagle Rock Chapter, as well as members of the Montclair Red Cross.
The Montclair Honor Guard opened and concluded the ceremony.
Related Stories
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
