Parade of Wreaths honors fallen heroes

Published June 1, 2012
By Pascual Flores
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, the Thomas B. McGuire Foundation and the New Jersey State Police commemorated Memorial Day during the 29th annual Parade of Wreaths ceremony May 24 at Pudgy's Circle.

More than 400 service members representing all branches of the military, distinguished visitors and the joint base community attended the ceremony honoring our service members, both past and present.

Guest speakers were Brig. Gen. Scott Goodwin, U.S. Air Force, Expeditionary Center, commandant and Lt. Col. Matthew Wilson, New Jersey State Police deputy superintendant of investigations.

Reciting parts of "The Gettysburg Address" by President Abraham Lincoln, Goodwin reflected on the sacrifices and devotion to duty made in the world-famous November 1863 speech.

Goodwin commented on the sounds and sights of service members preparing for combat as they readied for deployment and their commitment to the nation as a reminder to honor the price of freedom and those who paid it.

"The willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice in service to ideals held more precious than life itself," said Goodwin. "All who have made the choice that commitment we define in those two words, service and sacrifice."

Wilson provided information and statistics on the New Jersey police security and the duty and sacrifices made by some New Jersey troopers.

"Colonel Fuentes and the entire state police are extremely proud of our dual-service troopers," said Wilson. "We will never forget their sacrifices."

Upper Elementary School students Amira Faulker, 5th grade and Brandon Kuhl, 6th grade, recited their winning essays on "The Cost of Freedom" in front of the joint base community were also featured.

Thirty-four wreaths were carried to Pudgy's Circle by service members from all military branches and the New Jersey State Police, followed by a 3-volley salute and the playing of Taps.

The ceremony featured a fly-over by four helicopters from Marine Aircraft Group 49, the New Jersey State Police Pipes and Drums of the Blue and Gold, the North Hanover Township School District children's choir, which sang "God Bless the U.S.A." and "God Bless America."

The installation and the Thomas B. McGuire Jr. Foundation conducted the first of what became the annual Parade of Wreaths in 1983 and held it annually since to commemorate Memorial Day.