West Orange 2023 Memorial Day Event Will Honor Fallen Veterans

WEST ORANGE, NJ — West Orange will hold its 2023 Memorial Day ceremony next week to honor fallen military veterans.

According to a municipal news release:

“Mayor Susan McCartney and the West Orange Township Council invite the public to attend the annual West Orange Memorial Day ceremony. It will take place on the steps of Town Hall at 66 Main Street on Monday May 29 at 10 a.m. Council members will place wreaths in War Memorial Park adjacent to Town Hall to honor our fallen veterans. The ceremonies will also feature the West Orange High School Mountaineer Squadron of the Air Force Jr. ROTC. Students from WOHS Chester Koch and Andrew Strom will perform on trumpets and Paige Palent and James Tibang will sing as the vocalists.”

This year’s Memorial Day celebration includes several notable milestones, officials said. Most notably is the 160th anniversary of the founding of the town known today as West Orange The historic first Township Committee meeting also occurred 160 years ago on April 18, 1863.

Town officials added:

“Decoration Day, as it was known, originated during the American Civil War when flowers were placed on the graves of those who had been killed in battle. Following World War I the name was changed to Memorial Day to honor all those who have died in our nation’s wars. On the 160th anniversary of West Orange one former resident holds a monumental and historical connection to both the Civil War and the lawn in front of town hall. Since this July marks the 160th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg that coincides with the anniversary of West Orange’s founding his story will be featured in remarks by Township Historian Joseph Fagan.”

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