Message from Councilman Roshan (Roc) White | May 15, 2024

Scotch Plains is once again eager to celebrate our veterans at our upcoming Memorial Day festivities. While we can never repay them for such selfless service, it is important that we take time to honor and celebrate our soldiers for their dedication and bravery.

Our township’s veterans – as well as millions of men and women having served in the armed forces since 1776 – are honored throughout the year, from Memorial Day to Veterans Day to special events that honor individual veterans who have called Scotch Plains home.

As a proud veteran who served overseas, I know firsthand how these programs allow the Scotch Plains community to show our collective appreciation for the sacrifices that local living veterans have made since World War II.

These painful conflicts over the decades also serve as important teaching tool for SP-F students, who learn from us how veterans should rightfully be honored, their stories of sacrifice repeatedly told. Moreover, it is important to continually underscore there is no glory in war; it is an ultimate necessity when there is absolutely no other alternative to preserve democracy, save innocent lives and create a lasting peace.

Today, along Park Avenue, our street poles are once again adorned with the images and names of local veterans who have served this great nation. I am honored to have my U.S. Marines portrait on one of those street poles, amidst so many brave men and women from Scotch Plains who proudly wore the uniform.

It is important to recognize that some veterans now living in Scotch Plains need a hand. They are facing unique challenges upon their return to civilian life, including physical and mental health issues, difficulty finding work, and readjusting to society. Many can’t truly understand the life of a war-time soldier, which is why it is so important that we remain compassionate, understanding and eager to lend support when they return home.

While we look forward to Memorial Day remembrances next weekend, it is also important to remember that celebrating veterans is not just a one-day event in Scotch Plains. We are proud of our  continual efforts to honor and support those who have served. By keeping their sacrifices in mind and continuing to support their needs, we can ensure that their service to our country is never forgotten.

Our Memorial Day remembrances begin with the annual “Ruck to Remember” to honor local veterans on Saturday, May 25, at 237 Park Ave. At 7 a.m., participants will embark on a 6.5-mile journey while wearing backpacks to symbolize the weight carried by soldiers on patrol.

The route will pass by Scotch Plains memorials and Gold Star streets, which we proudly name in honor of fallen soldiers.

Then, there’s the parade.  Following observances at the Fanwood train station and the Scotch Plains war memorial on Park Avenue and Front Street, the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Memorial Day Parade will start on Monday, May 27, at 10:45 a.m. The parade proceeds south on Park/Martine Avenues through downtown Fanwood and ends at LaGrande Park.

I would like to express my deep appreciation to the many volunteers from our community who have planned for this big weekend, to be both memorable and fulfilling.

Identical twin brothers Brian and Fr. David Santos have been named co-grand Marshals for the parade. Both brothers have deep ties to Scotch Plains, as Brian Santos and his family reside here,  while Fr. David was a popular priest at St. Bartholomew.

The Santos brothers grew up in Kearny, enrolled together at Rutgers University, and enlisted in the military after 9/11, becoming paratroopers in the National Guard. Fr. David was ultimately ordained as a priest; Brian joined the New Jersey State Police.

Like so many of us, the brothers are eagerly anticipating the parade, getting the chance to honor fellow service members while celebrating a community they both care for deeply.

Please make sure to honor veterans as part of your Memorial Day plans, remembering the 1.35 million American soldiers killed in war over the course of our nation’s history. 

And if you cannot make any of our organized events, there is still an important role you can play. I ask that you participate in the National Moment of Remembrance, an annual event that asks Americans, wherever they are at 3 pm local time on Memorial Day, to pause for a duration of one minute to remember those who died in military service to the United States.

Recognizing veterans’ sacrifices and continuing to support them, we can ensure that their service is never forgotten.