County Cancels Memorial Day Ceremony

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COURT HOUSE – Cape May County has decided to cancel its annual Memorial Day Ceremony.
According to a release, Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton and Freeholder Jeffrey Pierson regretfully made this decision as a result of complying with the executive orders from Gov. Phil Murphy, and under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.
The importance of honoring veterans and their families is extremely important, but protecting citizens, veterans, and those who support veteran-centric efforts could not be more paramount.
“Cancelling the Memorial Day Ceremony was a very difficult decision. Honoring our veterans is one of the most important things that we can do as a county and as a nation; however, this year it is overshadowed by the need to protect our community members”, stated Thornton.
The Cape May County Division of Veterans’ Services will coordinate an opportunity for any veterans’ organization that has participated in the Memorial Day Ceremony in the past and would like to place a wreath at the cemetery to do so.  Wreaths will be placed by appointment on Memorial Day. Please contact The Cape May County Division of Veteran’s Services ahead of time, at (609) 886-2762, to schedule your organization’s wreath placement. 
Flags will be placed at the Gerald M. Thornton Veterans’ Cemetery to honor veterans.
“The placement of the flags can be completed and will be coordinated in accordance with all social distancing regulations,” said Freeholder Jeffrey Pierson.
Cape May County will be announcing a different effort to remember those lost this year for Memorial Day in the coming weeks since an in-person ceremony is not possible.
Both freeholders and the Division of Veterans’ Services thanks the community for their continued support in our efforts to not only care for our current veterans, but also in honoring our Veterans past.