It was a day 70 years in the making when the 70th annual Kirkwood Memorial Day Parade and ceremony was held on Memorial Day to commemorate not just those who gave their lives defending the United States these past 70 years, but throughout the nation’s history.
Residents, members of the police and fire departments, emergency medical services, clergy, community organizations, elected officials and more gathered near the war memorial on Burnt Mill Road adjacent to the Kirkwood Fire Station to memorialize those who made what several of the day’s speakers noted as “the ultimate sacrifice.”
One such speaker was Mayor Michael Mignogna, who spoke about how Memorial Day falls around a time of year when many families are creating lasting memories, whether it be through proms, high school and college graduations, weddings, children’s sporting events or family vacations.
Mignogna said those who lost their lives defending America gave up those opportunities to make such memories, and so those who remain must use Memorial Day to honor that sacrifice.
“Memorial Day is a day to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for us, those who gave their lives so we could enjoy those times,” Mignogna said.
Also to speak at the ceremony were 6th Legislative District representatives Assemblywoman Pam Lampitt and Assemblyman Lou Greenwald.
In addition to being able to attend several Memorial Day ceremonies throughout the county, Lampitt said the day was also special for her because she was there to share the ceremony with her father-in-law and recent Voorhees resident, Retired Army Command Sgt. Maj. Gordon Lampitt.
Lampitt said she wasn’t born into a military family, but having married into one, she learned about love, compassion, the word “we,” the word “commitment” and banding together to support one another.
She said those values were true of many families that serve in the military, and for those who have family members who lost their lives, their sacrifices must be honored.
“We need to remember them,” Lampitt said. “It’s with that sort of love and commitment that their families have given to us and we have given to them, that’s why we’re here today.”
Greenwald, who has lived in Voorhees for 17 years and raised all three of his children in the community, spoke of traveling to the different Memorial Day ceremonies and seeing a woman with a young daughter whose father is serving in Afghanistan.
“There are families that everyday are sacrificing something very special so that these freedoms that are so cherished to us, we have an opportunity to enjoy,” Greenwald said.
Those who laid wreaths at the memorial included the Voorhees Fire District, Voorhees Career Firefighters and EMTs, Gibbsboro Fire Company, Voorhees Township Police, Voorhees Township Committee, Voorhees Democrat Club, Voorhees Junior Girl Scout Troop 30034, Cub Scout Pack 127, Boy Scout Troop 127, Veterans of Yardley Commons, South Jersey Vietnam Vets, Solid Rock Baptist Church, Voorhees Township Cultural Diversity Advisory Committee and several families.
Toward the closing of the ceremony, the Gibbsboro American Legion Post 371 provided a gun salute, and the Kirkwood Memorial Day Parade Committee thanked the Vandegrift family for their help in organizing and sponsoring the event.
