‘The cost paid’ is honored at Memorial Day event

The Harrison Township Veterans Commission and American Legion Post 452 jointly paid tribute to America’s war dead during the annual Memorial Day service on May 26.

“This is probably the most important thing we’ll do all day,” said post member Steven Herman during events at Richwood’s United Methodist Church. “That’s why we’ve come here today – it’s probably the most important thing we’ll do all year.”

The service took place at a section of the church cemetery dedicated to the fallen and culminated in a series of brief remembrances that also took place at Mullica Hill Baptist Church, Old Town Hall and the veterans memorial at William Wilt Park.

Herman, who is also a reverend, began with an opening prayer joined by the event’s audience at the church.

“On this Memorial Day, we are thankful for the sacrifice of over one million American service members throughout our history … and for their families who carry on without them. Today, we remember the cost paid, and the debt we cannot repay.”

Township resident Jake Stiles performed the national anthem, with some people in the crowd singing along. The fallen were then acknowledged with the reading of “Liturgy of Remembrance,” a portion of the poem, “For the Fallen,” by Robert Laurence Binyon.

Two unidentified Vietnam War veterans placed a memorial wreath beneath an American flag lowered to half-staff to commemorate the 50th anniversary of that war’s end on April 30, 1975.

After the service was over, veterans in attendance handed out roses so guests could place them on cemetery graves.

“This ceremony is always a big one for Harrison Township,” noted Deputy Mayor Lawrence Moore, “and each year, our American Legion Post 452 does a great job remembering those that have served and those that continue to serve. I think this is once again another wonderful year of doing that.

“I could not be any more grateful for the folks here today, our American Legion and, obviously, to be an American.”