Hunterdon County commissioner joins community to honor veterans at Wreaths Across America ceremony
TEWKSBURY TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Hunterdon County) — Community members gathered Saturday at Fairmount Rural Cemetery in Tewksbury Township to honor the nation’s veterans during a Wreaths Across America ceremony attended by nearly 100 residents, veterans, families and volunteers.
Deputy Director and Commissioner Shaun C. Van Doren joined attendees at the Dec. 13 event, which paid tribute to the service and sacrifice of U.S. military members laid to rest at the cemetery.
“I am honored to stand alongside all attendees here today to recognize the courage and commitment of our veterans,” Van Doren said. “This event is a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made in defense of our freedoms, and it is truly inspiring to see so many come together to pay their respects.”
Wreaths Across America is a nationwide initiative held each December at thousands of locations across the United States. Its mission — to remember the fallen, honor those who served and teach the next generation the value of freedom — was reflected throughout the ceremony as volunteers placed remembrance wreaths on veterans’ graves.
The event was sponsored by American Legion Post 342, Spruce Run Memorial VFW Post 5119 and the Woman’s Club of Tewksbury Township. The program included a ceremonial honor guard and a 21-gun salute.
Organizers noted that the Woman’s Club of Tewksbury Township has sponsored the Fairmount Rural Cemetery Wreaths Across America ceremony for all eight years of its existence, highlighting its ongoing commitment to honoring veterans and supporting the local community.
Van Doren also continued a personal tradition by placing a wreath on the grave of his uncle, John Apgar, an Army veteran who served during the Korean War and is buried at Fairmount Rural Cemetery.
“Every year when I place a wreath on my uncle’s grave, I am reminded of the real people and stories behind the service,” Van Doren said. “Honoring him alongside all these heroes today keeps his memory and his dedication to our freedoms very much alive.”
Wreaths Across America is a nonprofit organization that coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies on National Wreaths Across America Day, observed each December at Arlington National Cemetery and in thousands of communities nationwide.
