The Second Annual Blessings of the Badges Ceremony will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m.
A year ago, Conni Hare Murray had an idea to bring the first Blessings of the Badges ceremony to Moorestown. She said the event was so well-received they wanted to hold the ceremony again and enhance the experience, so on Wednesday, Nov. 1, the second annual Blessing of the Badges ceremony will take place at 7 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Moorestown.
Hare Murray said all first responders are invited to attend, and her hope is the ceremony continues to grow and attract first responders from around the area to receive prayers of protection and guidance.
Having attended a Blessings of the Badges ceremony in North Jersey more than a year ago, Hare Murray said she got the idea to bring something similar to Moorestown. Hare Murray jokingly said the idea was a “selfish desire” to protect her son who works as both a firefighter and police officer in South Jersey communities.
For that reason, Hare Murray started asking around to see if local churches were doing anything similar. She said several churches held 9/11 ceremonies honoring first responders, but to her knowledge, no place of worship in Moorestown held a Blessings of the Badge ceremony.
So, Hare Murray reached out to her church, First United Methodist, to see if it might be willing to offer up its building for the ceremony and contacted Mayor Manuel Delgado and Deputy Mayor Stacey Jordan about hosting in hopes of getting the community engaged. Hare Murray said clergy from the Christian and Jewish faith were in attendance.
“We are enhancing it this year; we learned from last year,” Hare Murray said. “We have a PowerPoint that’s going to go with some information on it and a bagpiper. We’re just so excited.”
During the ceremony, faith leaders will stand in the front of the church and extend an invitation to any first responder to come forward with their family, Hare Murray said. Attendees can go to the faith leader of their choice, and they can receive a blessing and have their badge anointed with oil.
Hare Murray said the ceremony isn’t about religious affiliations.
“If you have any degree of faith, you likely would want to pray for guidance for our men and women who are putting their lives on the line for us,” Hare Murray said.
Representatives from local fire, EMS and police will speak during the ceremony. Moorestown Township Police Chief Lee Lieber said the Moorestown community has always shown an overwhelming amount of good will toward first responders.
“We’re certainly appreciate that not only Conni and the Methodist Church but council and our residents are showing their support for law enforcement and our first responders,” Lieber said.
Lieber said his department has been encouraging officers to attend, and they anticipate a strong turnout.
For his part, Lieber plans to speak about the meaning of the badge first responders wear.
“Basically it’s evolved over the years to represent the public trust that’s placed upon the wearer,” Lieber said.
Hare Murray said first responders contend with people who want to do them harm and are making decisions on the fly. She said regardless of people’s thoughts on police or religious affiliations, she’s found most people are in agreement first responders deserve prayers of guidance and protection.
The ceremony is not limited to Moorestown. Hare Murray said she has encouraged residents in neighboring towns to join, and she said even if the first responder himself or herself cannot be there, family members are still encouraged to bring their badge for a blessing. Community members without a first responder are invited to attend as a show of support.
Looking forward, Hare Murray said she hopes the ceremony continues to grow each year with more and more people getting word.
“We need to just embrace the fact that we all have to work together for good,” Hare Murray. “I just would hope that people are praying for guidance for our first responders.”
