Edgewater Park Committee Not Supporting the Memorial Day Parade

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Name Withheld by The EP Reporter
To: EdgewaterPark Reporter <edgewaterparkreporter@yahoo.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 8:39:55 AM
Subject: Memorial Day Parade 



To: Edgewater Park Reporter

It is a sad state of affairs in Edgewater Park when we pull our sponsorship of the Memorial Day Parade which honors those who gave their lives for our country and our community. I have been a participant in the Memorial Day parade, first as a child and again as an adult leader of a youth organization.  Having grown up in Edgewater Park and currently a resident of this town, I am ashamed of this decision not to fund the parade and the fact that it will no longer end at the NATIONAL Cemetery which is located for the most part in Edgewater Park.

My family have always volunteered their time for charitable and civic organizations and I can not believe that other residents would not have responded to a call for help.  As it stated in the paper, the main reason was the overtime our town would have to spend on police.  Were any of the police asked to volunteer a few hours for this most important community event?  Or better yet, were any township employees or officials willing to volunteer to help on this a paid holiday for them?

  
Civic duty is the reason most people site as their reason for serving our community, so were they willing to volunteer to preserve our parade?

I still feel that if the community were informed that volunteers were needed to help control the parade route or any other task, many would respond (that is if the Beverly Bee was still mailed to the residents of Edgewater Park so they would know about it!)

It was offensive to read about this crisis in the Burlington County Times.  It put not only our community in a bad light but it also dishonored those brave heroes who served our country honorably.

I will proudly attend the parade in Beverly, although I usually watch it as it approaches the NATIONAL Cemetery and I will cheer for the bands and stand and applaud for the service units that protect our country.  I wonder where all of the people responsible for our non-participation will be?

------ End of Forwarded Message

This e-mailed comment, reflects most of the views we have received at the Blog, from Edgewater Park Residents, Veterans, and Family Members who's loved ones are buried in the Beverly National Cemetery as well as people who have attended the Parade in the past years and look forward to showing their respect and thanks to the Veterans by attending.

A big thumbs down to the Edgewater Park Committee for the decision not to support the Memorial Day Parade in Edgewater Park. 

Gee, when Chris VanBrunt served on Committee, he donated his salary to pay for portable defibrillators. Why can't the Township Committee donate part of their salary for the Memorial Day Parade? The Mayor has time to do this, thus saving the Parade, if she is as appreciative as her BCT letter to the editor stated. 

Put your money where your mouth is, as Chris VanBrunt did. It would set a great example, and would help in getting you re-elected.

The Edgewater Park Reporter