Message from Councilman Roshan White | 5/21/21

I would like to invite everyone in the community to join us on Monday, May 31 at 9:45 a.m. at the War Memorial, located at Front Street and Alan Augustine Green, by town hall, as we mark Memorial Day.

We will have a ceremony honoring our fallen heroes, hear performances by the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School band, as well as vocalists from the school.

There will be remarks reflecting on the day from Mayor Josh Losardo and Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr, as we lay wreaths to remember the many soldiers from our community who paid the ultimate price for freedom.

As you walk through town, you will also see the Veterans banners on display on our street poles, as we eagerly look for ways in which to honor these brave men and women.  Be sure to take time to read the Gold Star Veteran biographies that will line Park Avenue throughout Memorial Day weekend.

This year, we are also hosting a special ceremony to honor World War II veterans who live in Scotch Plains and Fanwood. As we are all sadly aware, we are steadily losing many of the veterans from the Greatest Generation.

I am proud and honored to list World War II veterans residing here:

Scotch Plains

Warren Butler

Alex Di Pace

Dr. Richard Dobyns

Ralph Douglas                       

Alphonse Fantini                   

Carl Giacobbe                        

Norm Gustafson                    

Louis Lewis                           

John Plebani   (100 years old)

Gregory Ruffa

Nathan Spiegel

Fanwood 

Joseph Schott 

Dante Mariani

Joseph Nagy

I would also like to note the American Legion/VFW Post 209 has initiated a wellness program. On May 29, we intend to do a ruck march and a few walks in honor of our fallen local heroes.  In addition, the American Legion will be doing weekly walking groups on Saturdays to get our veterans out and exercising, as well as in the community.

I very much look forward to seeing you on May 31, as we all get together to pay our most humble respects.