Moorestown’s 37th annual Memorial Day ceremony will take place on Monday, May 29, at 10 a.m. at Memorial Field off South Church Street. The ceremony will be outside, and attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs. The Moorestown High School band will kick off the ceremony with a musical prelude, followed by Posting of the Colors by Boy Scout Troop 44.
Rain or shine, the ceremony offers the community an opportunity to honor the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Donna Banes will be the musical guest. A military salute will be performed by Post 42, American Legion led by William H. Synder and Gene Clark, Commander. TAPS will be played by the Moorestown High School band and Rev. Dr. Eric Trozzo will conclude with the Benediction. Moorestown Mayor Nicole Gillespie, a veteran and graduate of the United States Naval Academy, will welcome all.
This year’s speaker will be Commander Craig Reiner, U.S. Navy. Cmdr. Reiner graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1992 and went on to serve as a Naval Aviator flying the F/A-18C Hornet. Throughout his service, he held both operational and test assignments, and conducted multiple deployments including an extended combat deployment aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, and onboard the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) in support of both Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM.
Cmdr. Reiner has accumulated over 2,500 flight hours, 500 carrier arrested landings and 55 combat sorties. His personal awards include two Meritorious Service Medals, four Air Medals, two Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medals, two Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medals and various campaign and unit awards.
The Moorestown Memorial Day ceremony has been taking place for over 35 years, under the direction of Judith Young who took over planning with Jean Gash in 1986. Two years ago, Young passed her responsibilities to Brooke Van Saun, who along with her husband Lt. Col. Alan Van Saun (U.S. Army Reserves) look to continue the solemn tradition.
Young, past president, AGSM (American Gold Star Mothers) will read the recitation of the names of the 41 soldiers from Moorestown, and as each name is called a girl scout will lay a flower on the memorial wreath. Post 42 of the American Legion will fire the gun salute to honor the fallen.
