Hunterdon County Deputy Director Soloway hosts veterans headstone cleaning at Spruce Run cemetery
GLEN GARDNER, NJ (Hunterdon County)- Hunterdon County Commissioner Deputy Director Susan Soloway along with members from VFW Post 5119 and Ladies Auxiliary Saturday participated in a veteran’s headstone cleaning at the Spruce Run cemetery, located at 442 West Hill Road, in Glen Gardner.
“It is always an honor to participate in these headstone cleanings, and I want to thank the volunteers from VFW Post 5119 and Ladies Auxiliary for all their assistance this morning. In addition to cleaning approximately 40 veteran headstones, several flags were also replaced at military members gravestones. It is important that we never forget the sacrifice of our service men and women, who so bravely and selflessly served our nation, as we continue to maintain their final resting place with care and respect,” Soloway said.
Hunterdon County Commissioners host approximately half a dozen headstone cleanings each year, usually during the spring and fall seasons. The Hunterdon County headstone cleaning program will take a break for the summer months and resume in the fall of 2024.
To sign-up as a volunteer or receive more information about upcoming veteran headstone cleanings, email VSO, Rich Booth at veterans@co.hunterdon.nj.us.
Participation in headstone cleanings is on a first-come-first- serve basis, as slots to volunteer fill up quickly once a cleaning is announced. All the volunteers receive instructions for the proper protocol on headstone cleaning and are directed to clean the gravesites marked with an American flag.
Hunterdon County first began cleaning veteran headstones in 2021, following a visit from Trae Zipper, Navy Veteran, and founder of the non-profit group, ‘By Memorial Day’, an organization with a focused goal to clean and care for every veteran headstone across the country.
