NORTH BRUNSWICK – The North Brunswick We Remember Committee held a pre-Sept. 11 ceremony at the flagpole and memorial site off Route 1 to commemorate the loss of life and sacrificial service on Sept. 11, 2001.
The memorial site was a donation by the George Harms Construction Company in 2003 after their completion of Route 130 bridge project.
This commemorative ceremony was chaired by township resident Pete Clark, who is a member of Wreaths Across America. The North Brunswick We Remember Committee is a subcommittee of Wreaths Across America.
Clark opened the ceremony on Sept. 8 by welcoming North Brunswick organizations to the program.
U.S. Navy veteran Jim Kletz led the group with the Pledge of Allegiance; followed by Mark Zielinski, North Brunswick Township High School assistant principal, with a prayer.
Then there was a moment of silence to remember the times of 8:45, 9:03, 9:43 and 10 a.m., which reflected the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
North Brunswick Councilman Bob Davis, who is a member of the township’s Sept. 11 Committee, reflected on all those who lost their lives, including one of his relatives, along with residents of North Brunswick who also died as a result of the attacks. Davis placed a bouquet of red, white and blue flowers at the memorial plaque in front of the flagpole.
In closing, Sue Kneller from the North Brunswick Woman’s Club read a memorial poem, ”9/11 Tears Remembered” by Shirley Fine Lee.
After the ceremony, the organizations provided items to fill two time capsules to mark the 20th anniversary of Sept. 11. The artifacts include a North Brunswick Police Department patch, a North & South Brunswick Sentinel newspaper clipping, North Brunswick Township High School’s 47th Commencement program, North Brunswick Woman’s Club Mission Statement brochure, Land of the Free T-shirt, a photograph of the ceremony’s attendees, memorable tokens, and baseball trading cards.
These two time capsules will be buried at the memorial with a letter to current Mayor Francis “Mac” Womack on the location of the two time capsules, requesting that they be unearthed during the 25th anniversary and be shared with the public.
- This information was provided by Pete Clark.
