By Cheryl Conway
Patriotism thrives in Mt. Olive and will ring true on Monday, May 25, at the annual Memorial Day ceremony still set to take place at the All Veterans Memorial in Budd Lake.
While New Jersey’s executive orders for social distancing and group gatherings of less than ten people resumes, the local ceremony will be virtual to the public via live-stream on different social media outlets. No one, other than those invited to participate in the ceremony, will be allowed to attend.
The All Veterans Memorial / All Veterans Alliance in Budd Lake has received approval from Mt. Olive Mayor Robert Greenbaum to hold a Memorial Day Ceremony at the AVM on May 25, at 11 a.m. The ‘2020’ Memorial Remembrance Day Ceremony is being organized and sponsored by the AVM and AVA.
While many other organizations in surrounding areas are cancelling their Memorial Day events this year because of the governor’s orders, AVM and AVA Founder Charlie Uhrmann is planning her traditional annual event. Now, more than any other time is to stand united under one nation.
“We can figure out a way to adhere to the governor’s orders, do it safely, common sense precaution,” says Uhrmann.
As this year’s keynote speaker, Uhrmann will pay tribute to fallen warriors, and will also “address the period we are in right now,” during a time of crisis and uncertainty, as “One Nation Under God; our need to be one nation under God, under these circumstances.”
While she accepts that she will not have her usual 200 plus people in attendance along with groups such as the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Junior ROTC and color guard, she says holding a ceremony, “that’s essential to us.”
She says, “I started rallying the troops and they’re all available,” all nine of them to be exact as she knows she needs to adhere to the governor’s orders.
She contacted the mayor with her idea to keep him informed and seek approval.
“We discussed and both agreed that the ceremony should not be open to the public and that the participants should be restricted to no more than ten people present at one time,” says Uhrmann. “We should also try to limit the number of participants on the main complex to only three during the ceremony.
“This will be the first year we will not have the participation of a full Color Guard, Boys and Girl Scouts, period military displays and a live National Anthem performance,” she says. Since the flags remain at half-staff for those who have died due to COVID-19, Uhrmann says she won’t need to use the color guard.
“Instead, we are hoping that Mark Noyes [U.S. Navy] will open the ceremony by playing each military homely in front of the specific branch of service flag,” she says. Frank Mezle of the U.S. Coast Guard will raise each service flag as each song is played, as noted on the itinerary.
Live Stream Suggested
The mayor had suggested to her, “why don’t you stream it on the township website and his website?” says Uhrmann.
Grateful for the cooperation, “the ceremony will be available to the public in real time via FB Streaming and through other internet sites that have voiced interest,” says Uhrmann. “We would like to respectfully ask that you do not invite any family or friends to the AVM, as we have made a commitment to control the attendance at the park; only those with exceptional circumstances will be allowed. “Mt. Olive Township has offered to assist us in this year’s Spring Clean-up efforts, as the pending mandate prohibits group gatherings,” she says. “I will be working alone on various projects that warrant attention Monday through Friday. Displays will be set up on Friday and will remain at the park until Tuesday.”
During the last Mt. Olive Twp. Council meeting, Greenbaum applauded Uhrmann for coordinating this year’s upcoming ceremony. He requested township officials jump on board, whether that is helping her prepare the sight, video-taping the event, live-streaming and watching virtually.
“I thought it was pretty impressive what she was able to put together,” says Greenbaum.
Mt. Olive Twp. Business Administrator Andrew Tatarenko says “The township is currently trying to work out the logistics with videotaping/livestreaming, the details have not been worked out. At a minimum it will be broadcasted via our social media platforms, most likely the Mayor’s Page, but we are also trying to get it on our website. Our Public Works Department assists by prepping the grounds, provides cones, etc.”
Event Prep
Uhrmann reached out to nine selected people that she figured “were not committed to anything else” that day and she got a “100 percent response,” she says. “People felt the same as I did. I feel it’s essential. You don’t forget this day.”
She says, “it’s amazing how many people want to participate, but they can’t” because of the mandate. “Our whole goal is the stream it; don’t come to the AVM, she stresses.
Those nine who are attending will be sitting 20 feet apart, she says. The Boy Scouts will provide a display prior to the event, and the AVM will allow the set-up of displays by other groups or organizations, which will be left up through Tuesday for any visitors who visit.
The person, who was originally planned to serve as the keynote speaker, had to cancel for unfortunate circumstances. This person would have been Uhrmann’s first female keynote speaker for this event.
“I had hoped to have a female speaker, however and sadly, she had recently lost both her parents to COVID-19,” says Uhrmann. “Since we are now fighting a different war that is affecting all of America’s citizens, to which is now being fought by civilians in the front line, and in respect to the governor’s social distancing mandates, we had decided it would be appropriate to allow me to be this year’s keynote speaker.
Uhrmann plans to deliver a bipartisan message: “I will deliver the Keynote Message that will address our nation’s loss of brave warriors and our most recent civilian warriors battling the war on COVID-19. The message will be about unity and oneness. A belief long held by the All Veterans Memorial board members.
The keynote message will not only address our fallen warriors; but the recent COVID-19 losses as well. Our focus this year is to cultivate a oneness between our service members and civilians. It is the perfect time to integrate the two; One Nation Under God.”
She says they “will have a moment of silence” for those who have passed way, including military and those who died from COVID-19.
Participants of The Morristown Chapter – Daughters of the American Revolution will be laying the memorial wreaths during the ceremony. Participants include: Corresponding Secretary Katherine Newcomber who will represent the U.S. Army and lay a wreath at the Global War On Terror Memorial Bridge; Chapter Regent Carrie Efinger, who will represent the U.S. Navy and lay a wreath at the War Dog Memorial; First Vice Regent Peg Shultz who will represent the U.S. Air Force and lay a wreath at the Spiritual Cenotaph; Registrar Becky Wilder who will represent the U.S. Coast Guard and lay a wreath at the Warrior Obelisk; and Past Chapter Regent Patricia Sanftner, who will represent the U.S. Marine Corps and lay a wreath at the POW/MIA/PTSD Remembrance Wall.
Rob Bedell of the U.S. Air Force- who will also serve as the narrator of the event, lead the “Pledge of Allegiance,” as well as the Introductory Remarks/Presidential Proclamation- will call each participant of the NSDAR while Mark Noyes of the U.S. Navy will play “Amazing Grace” at the Bill of Rights Wall.
“Rob will call for a moment of silence after the last wreath has been laid,” says Uhrmann. “TAPS,” will be played by Christine Emmett of the U.S. Marine Corps after 15 seconds of silence.
Chaplain Amber Charman of the U.S. Army will provide the Invocation and the Benediction.
See the detailed itinerary included on this page for more information.
A private ceremony will be held at this year’s ceremony for the laying of the pavers.
The setting of a memorial paver during the ceremony is pending for the latest N.J. fallen warrior, U.S. Army Sgt. Michael James Goble.
“We are also setting a service paver for Andrew Kacmarcik – a WWII Veteran who lost his life at Iwo Jima,” says Uhrmann. Kacmarcik was with the U.S. Marine Corps.
Those who have been asked to participate in the event are honored to comply.
“The members of the Morristown Chapter, NSDAR are honored to have been asked by the AVM organization to be a participant in the Memorial Day ceremonies this year,” says First Vice Regent Peg Shultz of the Morristown Chapter of the NSDAR.
“As a member of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, the daughter of a career USAF Veteran, and a member of Post 91 American Legion Auxiliary, I feel it is my patriotic duty to participate in any way I can,” says Shultz of Andover. “I am particularly honored to place the USAF memorial wreath.
“As the word "Memorial" tells us, it's a day for remembering and honoring those who sacrificed their lives in battle,” explains Shultz. “It is their ultimate sacrifice that allows all Americans to enjoy the freedoms outlined by the founding fathers in our national documents.
“While this year will be a little different due to Covid-19 and social distancing, we should pause to reflect and remember the brave men and women who answered the call of the nation and made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom all Americans enjoy,” Shultz concludes.
The live-stream is so far set to be hosted on the Mayor’s Facebook page and the All Veterans Memorial’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/AllVeteransMemorialMountOlive/
https://m.facebook.com/Mayor-Rob-Greenbaum-148566751876210/