Morris County honors veterans during Memorial Day observance held in nation’s 250th anniversary year
MORRISTOWN, N.J. (Morris County) — Morris County honored nine local veterans Wednesday during its annual Memorial Day observance outside the historic Morris County Courthouse, with this year’s ceremony also recognizing the approaching 250th anniversary of the United States.
The Morris County Board of County Commissioners presented Distinguished Military Service Medals to veterans from across the county during the ceremony, which included patriotic music, military honors and tributes to fallen service members.
The event also featured a special remembrance of Continental Army soldiers who died during the Revolutionary War encampment at Jockey Hollow nearly 250 years ago.
“As we gather during this historic 250th anniversary year for our nation, we are reminded that the liberties we cherish were secured not by words alone, but by the courage and sacrifice of generations of Americans who believed this nation was worth defending,” said Commissioner Director Stephen Shaw. “Here in Morris County, that legacy is woven into our history, from the Revolutionary War encampments that shaped our early identity to the service members and families who stand with us today.”
Deputy Commissioner Director John Krickus, a retired U.S. Marine Corps veteran, led the county’s annual “Look Back on a Fallen Morris County Hero” tribute, focusing this year on the 56 known Continental soldiers who died during the “Hard Winter” encampment at Jockey Hollow.
Krickus specifically recognized Jacob Johnson of present-day Parsippany and Dr. Jonathan Horton of Roxbury, both Morris County residents who died during the encampment.
The keynote address was delivered by Vietnam veteran James Ferguson of Mountain Lakes, who served in the U.S. Navy from 1963 to 1966, including duty aboard swift boats in Vietnam.
“We pause to remember and thank the countless heroes who gave their lives in service to their country,” Ferguson said. “I hope and trust that all Americans will continue to appreciate the service of those who wear the uniform of our great nation.”
The veterans honored during the ceremony were Thomas A. Walbridge of Washington Township; George Anthony Arathorn of Mount Olive; Joel Patrick Branosky of Harding Township; John A. Hendricks of Hanover Township; Lee Karosen; Francesco “Frank” A. Piserchia of Lincoln Park; Dominick Sabol of Pequannock; Norus Achmetov of Mountain Lakes; and Herbert M. Teisch of Pequannock.
The ceremony began with a bagpipe performance by Chief Robert McNally of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office as the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Joint Honor Guard raised and lowered the American flag outside the courthouse.
Additional performances included the national anthem and “God Bless America” by the Lakeview School of Denville Select Choir. Father Lukasz Wnuk of St. Virgil Parish in Morris Plains delivered the invocation.
The observance concluded with a wreath-laying ceremony led by Vietnam veteran Emerson Crooks of Randolph Township’s VFW Post 7333, followed by a 21-gun salute, “Amazing Grace” performed on bagpipes and the playing of “Taps.”
County officials noted the Morris County Distinguished Military Service Medal program began in 1999 to honor World War II veterans and has since expanded to recognize veterans of Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. More than 10,000 medals have been awarded since the program’s creation.
