The residents of the Township of Scotch Plains are proud Americans who honor our Country and its veterans in ways large and small.
So many of us proudly fly the American flag from our homes and yards all year round.
We maintain historic landmarks in town that stood since the Revolutionary War.
We attend parades, rename streets, and gather every July for our amazing Fourth of July celebration and fireworks display.
I love how our streets are decorated with banners showing the names and photographs of our veterans. I know you do too.
The Hometown Heroes Banners that are displayed twice a year reminds all of us of the heroes living amongst us. We see family names we recognize. We see younger faces of men and women who served in the military long ago.
And every November 11, possibly since the holiday began in 1938, we pause to celebrate and honor our veterans.
We do so to offer our tremendous gratitude to each man and woman who served our Country, many risking their lives when they answered America’s call.
Our town has been home to brave veterans since the Revolutionary War.
In prior speeches, I have spoken of the Victory Celebration Committee of Scotch Plains which was organized to commemorate the contributions of our community during World War I.
In the middle of Front Street, just off Park Avenue, stands a monument constructed by the Victory Celebration Committee and a captured German cannon.
The cannon was a gift from the U.S. government to the town to acknowledge how much financial support Scotch Plains residents raised in support of the war effort.
Nearly 100 years ago, $700,000 was raised.
That figure greatly exceeded the $25,500 that was anticipated to be raised.
While most of us yearn for a world without conflict, we are not naïve.
Conflicts, large and small, continue to be part of the human story, and until that is resolved, all of us are thankful, all of us are grateful, for every American veteran whose sacrifice has enabled the United States to endure.
The United States is like no other country in the world.
And our freedoms and way of life is permissible only because of the veterans whom we give thanks to today.
On behalf of a grateful Township, to each and every veteran who has served America, thank you for your service.
