Veterans and Freeholders Honor 75th Anniversary of D-Day

Hunterdon County’s Board of Chosen Freeholders, at the June 4th meeting, joined with several World War II Veterans, to recognize the 75th anniversary of D-Day with a Proclamation honoring those who stormed the beaches at Normandy, many at the cost of their lives, on June 6, 1944, a date that is acknowledged as the beginning of the end of Nazi tyranny in Europe.

Freeholder Deputy Director John E. Lanza, the Board’s Veterans’ Liaison, presented the Proclamation which read, “It is important to honor, and to pay tribute to American, British, Canadian, Free French and Polish forces who, through their courage and sacrifice, secured the beachheads on those fateful French shores that day, which ultimately changed the course of history.

Freedom loving people everywhere should pause to reflect on the sacrifices made on June 6, 1944, remembering those who fought and those who perished, all serving valiantly, in the name of freedom.”

World War II Veterans Robert Gibson, Eugene Esterkin and Don Bishop, were joined by other Veterans, including several Vietnam War Veterans, in the ceremony to receive the Proclamation.

Freeholder Lanza stated, “With this Proclamation we honor the courage and heroism of those who, as they prepared for battle were told by General Dwight Eisenhower, ‘the hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you.’ And we are thankful for the service of the gentlemen who have joined us today for the ceremony, and to all those who have served and currently serve our nation.”

The Proclamation concluded, “The Board of Chosen Freeholders joins with our many Veterans’ organizations to observe and commemorate June 6, 2019, the 75th anniversary of D-Day, in tribute to the brave service members, ‘The Greatest Generation’, living and dead, who did so much to open the path to victory and peace.”