Camden County Memorial Day Ceremony Set For May 26

Camden County Freeholder Bill Moen will be joined by Gold Star Mother Judi Tapper and other Gold Star Families to announce the Camden County Gold Star Parent Identification Card during the county's annual Memorial Day ceremony on Saturday, May 26, 10 a.m. at Camden County Veterans Cemetery at Harleigh.

Tapper is the mother of David Tapper, a member of the Navy’s Seal Team 6 unit that recused POW Jessica Lynch. David Tapper, of Waterford Township, was killed in action in 2003.

“This is a time for us to come together to honor the men and women of our armed forces for their service, and to remember the sacrifices they made for our great country,” Moen, liaison to the Camden County Office of Veterans Affairs, said. “We also pay a great debt of gratitude to the families of our fallen heroes, and acknowledge their own personal sacrifices. The new card will identify Gold Star Parents when an ID is required to receive discounts or other courtesies extended to military families.”

The state law authorizing county clerk’s offices to issue identification cards to Gold Star Parents was sponsored by Senators Jim Beach and Nilsa Cruz-Perez. The ID will provide the holder state-wide benefits, including free admission to state parks, beaches and the New Jersey State Museum. There are currently 20 Gold Star Parents in Camden County.

The Camden County Veterans Cemetery was established in 2007 in response to a request from local veterans who asked for a dedicated burial place close to home. County officials made it a priority to develop a final resting place for heroes who have valiantly served America.

“We chose Harleigh as the location for this hallowed ground for its beauty and its historic significance,” Moen said. “The eight-acre park-like setting is situated on a bluff overlooking the scenic Cooper River, on the border of Camden and Collingswood. We have invested our resources into making this plot of land significant for eternity.”

Established in 1885, Harleigh Cemetery is currently the final resting place of hundreds of veterans, including more than 300 who served in the Civil War. It is also the resting place of poet Walt Whitman, four United States Senators, and generations of Camden County families.

Those attending the ceremony should park at Riggs School located at 1656 Kaighn Avenue in Camden City. The ceremony will be held rain or shine.

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