N.J. Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Hosting Annual Memorial Day Ceremony

While parades in towns around the state honor those who gave their lives in service to the United States, the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Foundation has a larger Memorial Day event scheduled to honor those who've died in the Armed Forces.

A Memorial Day ceremony, with wreath presentations, music by the Rock N' Roll Chorus, a presentation of colors by the U.S. Navy Sea Cadet Corps from Naval Weapons Station Earle and several guest speakers is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Monday at the state's Vietnam Veterans' Memorial in Holmdel.

Gilbert "Whip" Wilson, the Camden County sheriff and a trustee of the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Foundation Board of Directors will preside over the ceremony.

Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno is the guest speaker, and Joe Formola, chaplain of the New Jersey State Council of Vietnam Veterans of America, will give the invocation.

In addition, the foundation will award two scholarships to high school seniors from New Jersey who plan to further their education either at a college, university or trade/technical school. This year's scholarship recipients are Matthew Falco of Cranford High School and Teresa Ngo of Biotechnology High School.

An "In Memory" program will honor those who served in Vietnam and returned home, but later died as a result of their tour. This year, five names will be inducted: Kenneth J Christie, Jr. of New Brunswick, Charles D'Amico of Haskell, Charles S. Della Peruta of Bound Brook, Raymond E. Demers of Kenilworth, and Henrique S. Nunes of Newark.

The museum will remain open until 2 p.m. following the ceremony. 

The New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial is located at 1 Memorial Lane, Holmdel, off exit 117 on the Garden State Parkway.

(Photo via the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Foundation Facebook page)