Message from Councilman Roc White – June 5, 2026
On June 14, we once again observe Flag Day — a moment set aside each year to honor the American flag and reflect on everything it represents.
In a year as significant as 2026, when our nation marks its 250th anniversary, Flag Day carries a weight and meaning that feels especially profound.
Two hundred and fifty years ago, a group of ordinary men and women dared to believe in something extraordinary — that a nation could be built not on the authority of a crown, but on the consent of its people, on the ideals of liberty, justice, and equality.
The flag they eventually rallied around was more than a piece of cloth. It was a promise. And today, that same flag — 13 stripes, 50 stars — still stands as a symbol of that promise, renewed by every generation that has carried it forward.
As your councilman, I have had the privilege of serving this community alongside people of every background, every faith, every walk of life. What strikes me most about Scotch Plains is that in our diversity, we find our strength.
We are a community of neighbors who show up for one another — at public meetings, at local fundraisers, at Memorial Day ceremonies, and yes, on Flag Day. That spirit of showing up, of civic participation and community pride, is exactly what the flag calls us to do.
This year, as Scotch Plains residents join all Americans in celebrating 250 years of hard-fought independence, I find myself thinking not only about how far we have come, but about the men and women who made that journey possible.
As a Gulf War veteran and proud U.S. Marine, I think of the many from our township who wore this nation's uniform and served under that flag in places far from home. I think of the first responders who protect our streets every day. I think of the teachers, the volunteers, the everyday
citizens who quietly and persistently make this community better.
The flag belongs to all of them. It belongs to all of us.
Flag Day also reminds us of our responsibilities as citizens. Democracy is not a spectator sport. It requires participation — in our local elections, in our town hall meetings, in the conversations we have with our neighbors. When we honor the flag, we are not just celebrating the past. We are recommitting ourselves to the work of the present and the promise of the future.
I encourage every family in Scotch Plains to display the American flag on June 14 with pride. Take a moment to share its history with your children. Pause to reflect on what it means to live in a free society — something that is never guaranteed, but what we are committed to protecting.
Scotch Plains will mark America's 250th anniversary with two days of community celebrations on June 26 and 27.
Friday, June 26 — the anniversary of the 1777 Battle of Short Hills, fought right here in Scotch Plains — begins at 4:30 p.m. with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Scotch Plains Baptist Church (333 Park Ave.), honoring the Revolutionary War patriots interred there, with the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution in attendance.
A parade led by a professional George Washington reenactor on horseback will then proceed down Park Avenue to Town Hall, where we will open a time capsule buried on October 14, 1984, during the Township’s 300th anniversary celebration — sealed with instructions to open it in 2026.
Festivities continue from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on the Alan M. Augustine Village Green, with food donated by the historic Stage House Tavern (built in 1737), live music by the Nettingham Middle School Jazz Ensemble, and exhibits from local historical organizations including the Frazee House, Preserve Shady Rest, and the Scotch Plains and Fanwood Historical Society.
On Saturday, June 27, the celebration moves to Shady Rest Country Club (820 Jerusalem Rd.) — a building that predates the American Revolution itself — for some live music and the Township's annual fireworks. I hope to see you there.
In this remarkable year of America 250, let us fly our flags high and carry our values even higher.