Service Held At Gloucester County Cemetery Honors Those Who Died For Our Country
MONROE TOWNSHIP, N.J., (CBS) -- It was a somber service in South Jersey to mark Memorial Day at the Gloucester County Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
Unfortunately, there are new gravestones here. Rows and rows of them are decorated with flags and flowers, a sobering reminder of the price of freedom.
Hundreds of people came to pay their respects to the men and women who died defending that freedom.
Gloucester County Freeholder Director Robert Damminger said he is always impressed by the turnout for this service.
"What people put on the line, the sons and daughters of this country, to come out and put their life on the line in defense of this country, this is the least we can do," Damminger said. "It turned out fabulously, and we couldn't be happier."
Damminger calls the cemetery New Jersey's version of Arlington.
"This used to be a potato field, and you can see what it's become today. It's designed by veterans and this is the final product, and I think it's a beautiful place."
Will Fennel, a man whose brother is buried at Gloucester County Veterans Memorial Cemetery, was also on hand on Sunday.
"And a whole lot of friends as a matter of fact. Lots of schoolmates, teammates."
Fennel says this isn't a happy holiday, but one to reflect on what makes the country so great.
Vietnam veteran Richard Geldrich came in uniform and carrying a rifle. He also said that this isn't a happy holiday.
"Sad to think about all the past people that went before you. All the lives that were sacrificed."