Chatham Borough Memorial Day Message: 'Love of Country, Love of Family, Love of Community, Love for Future Generations'

CHATHAM, NJ -- Council member Justin Strickland , a veteran who served in Iraq, gave a message of "Love" in his remarks at the 2024 Memorial Day Ceremony held at the Chatham Borough Firehouse on Monday.

Chatham Veterans from the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines were represented at the annual event, which was moved from Memorial Park to the firehouse because of the weather conditions.

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Veterans in attendance included Tom Salvas (Air Force), John Eyre (Navy), John Geddes (Army), John Crouthamel (Army), Strickland (Army) and Jack Conlan (Marines).

"On Memorial Day weekend, we are reminded in ceremonies that the nearly 1.2 million service members who died, died in defense of freedom for all those in our nation," Strickland said. "That's absolutely true, but I'd like us to consider an additional reason today, and that reason is love. Love of country, love of family, love of community and love of preserving those for today, tomorrow and future generations.

"Twenty years ago when I was a platoon leader in Iraq, I wasn't thinking about freedom, I was thinking about the 34 guys in my platoon getting home safely to their family and friends. It was my love for them that motivated me every day. Every service member is different and has their own experience and perspective, but I bet if we were able to ask many of the fallen service members we honor today, they would tell us they died in defense of the country they loved, in defense of the community they loved, in the defense of the people they loved, in defense of future generations that they did not know, but they loved.

Iraq Veteran Justin Strickland makes remarks at Memorial Day Ceremony

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Strickland quoted John 15:13: There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends .

"On this Memorial Day let's remember how much love was demonstrated by the brave men and women who died while serving our country," Strickland said. "Let us honor them by being good stewards of that love and live each day with the same dedication to love of country, of family, of friends, community and future generations that they did. May God Bless the brave members of the armed services, May God Bless the families of those we honor on Memorial Day and May God Bless the United States of America."

The ceremony included remarks from Mayor Carolyn Dempsey (see below), the presentation of colors by the Chatham Borough Fire Department, the Pledge of Allegiance led by Scout Sean Dailey , and the National Anthem sung by Julia Wilcox .

There also was the laying of the wreath in honor of the fallen and Taps played by 15-year-old Troop 28 Boy Scout Mason Soriano (see below).

Charley Baird-Hassell sang God Bless America (see below), followed by the Benediction from Father Bob Mitchell .

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