Montclair Township held its annual Memorial Day tribute at Edgemont Memorial Park to honor those who gave up their lives to serve to the country. (MARIA MONICA FERNANDEZ/STAFF)

Montclair held its annual Memorial Day ceremony on Monday at Edgemont Memorial Park. The event, with Mayor Sean Spiller as the master of ceremonies, honored the service and sacrifice of the men and women who have protected and defended the nation.

The Montclair Community Band welcomed the dozens of guests on the sunny and clear day as they gathered around the pond at the park to show their respect for the fallen heroes.

Around 10:10 am, the ceremony started with the Advanced of Colors followed by the Pledge of Allegiance given by Boy Scout Troop No. 12. Next, Cecile Williams sang the national anthem.

Father Giandomenico Flora, from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, gave the invocation and blessing of the wreaths. Representatives of the Montclair Fire Honor Guard, members of the Montclair Township Council, Crawford Crews American Legion Post 251, and Lt. Vincent J. Russo American Legion Post 382 were also at the tribute paying their respects.

Aiden Kwiatkowski, the student speaker and member of Boy Scout Troop No. 12, called for a moment of thought in his turn at the microphone. “Let us not forget that even when America was blatantly oppressive, discriminated, and unjust, millions of the oppressed still fought boldly for the very values that they were denied in their homeland, clinging on to just the tiniest sliver of hope that they may see brighter days,” Kwiatkowski said.

Councilor-at-Large Bob Russo and Michael Perrone, from the Belleville Historical Society, announced the restoration of 90% of the World War I monument located at Watchung Plaza.

Navy Veteran Chief Petty Officer Al B. Dineros invited people to take a moment to reflect on the lives of the service members who made the ultimate sacrifice as he shared the stories of two of his closest shipmates who died while serving their country.

In his remarks, Spiller said: “Often people think of this weekend as a barbecue or a time to get together with family and friends, but it is a time to remember. It is a time to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.”

The Montclair Police Honor Guard fired a salute, followed by Scott Freier playing “Taps.” The end of the ceremony was marked by the Retiring of Colors.

The ceremony started with the Advance of Colors by the Montclair Fire Honor Guard and the Montclair Police Honor Guard. (MARIA MONICA FERNANDEZ/STAFF)
Mayor Sean Spiller was the master of ceremonies. “The contributions of our veterans are still built today and their spirits live on in the residents of Montclair and everyone here today,” he said. (MARIA MONICA FERNANDEZ/STAFF)r
Aiden Kwiatkowski, a member of Boy Scout Troop No. 12, was the student speaker at the ceremony. (MARIA MONICA FERNANDEZ/STAFF)oy
Councilor-at-Large Bob Russo and Michael Perrone, from the Belleville Historical Society, announced the restoration of the World War I monument at Watchung Plaza. (MARIA MONICA FERNANDEZ/STAFF)
Members of the Montclair Township Council, Crawford Crews American Legion Post 251, and Lt. Vincent J. Russo American Legion Post 382 paid their respects. (MARIA MONICA FERNANDEZ/STAFF)
John Taylor, a Montclair resident who served in the Vietnam War from 1976 to 1980, attended to the ceremony. “People who lost their lives, friends and comrades in just chapters of their life to make our lives greater because of their vision,” he said. (MARIA MONICA FERNANDEZ/STAFF)
Montclair residents Nat Williams and Marcella Sadamaris attended the ceremony. Williams served in the Korean War. (MARIA MONICA FERNANDEZ/STAFF)
The Montclair Community Band provided music for the Memorial Day observance. (MARIA MONICA FERNANDEZ/STAFF)

— Maria Monica Fernandez/Montclair Local