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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 10, 2014

Contact: Lawrence Ragonese (609) 292-2994
Bob Considine (609) 984-1795
Joe Seldner (609) 984-1795

HOLIDAY CEREMONIES HONORING VETERANS AT FINNS POINT CEMETERY
AND FORT MOTT STATE PARK IN SALEM COUNTY

 WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA AND SOLDIERS’ CHRISTMAS EVENTS SET FOR SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13

(14/P134) TRENTON – New Jersey’s military veterans will be honored at a Wreaths Across America ceremony at Finns Point National Cemetery on Saturday, December 13, and later that same day, visitors will be treated to a Soldiers’ Christmas – lantern-guided tours through the history of battles – at nearby Fort Mott State Park in Pennsville. The events are free and open to the public.

The Wreaths Across America event, which begins at noon, is one of more than 800 wreath-laying ceremonies scheduled on Saturday in all 50 states to honor all military veterans. This week, Governor Christie and Lt. Governor Guadagno participated in Wreaths Across America ceremonies at Ellis Island and at the Statehouse in Trenton. Since 1992, the organization has been decorating cemeteries and graves of veterans for the holiday season to remember the fallen and honor those who served.

This is the seventh year an event is being held at Finn’s Point National Cemetery, which is operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs and adjacent to Fort Mott State Park. It is sponsored locally by Salem County’s Oak Tree Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and will involve placing wreaths on the more than 650 graves, including a mass grave for 2,400 Confederate soldiers.

That evening, at Fort Mott State Park, the Soldiers’ Christmas event will be held. Lantern-guided tours of the park begin at the museum at 5 p.m., with the last tour leaving at 9 p.m. Visitors can see military memorabilia at the museum before heading out on 45-60 minute tours that will feature presentations about military battles over the centuries. This event is sponsored by the 9th Division WWII Historical Preservation Society

“These are all very interactive presentations, from a Roman legion, the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, World War I and World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War,” said Andy Grant, Resource Interpretive Specialist of Historic Resources for the New Jersey State Park’s Service, and Fort Mott historian.

There will be a Korean War tent, with volunteers making food from that era and a look at what soldiers had to deal with on the front. There will be visitor-interactive World War II presentations by the 9th Division WWII Historical Preservation Society featuring a look at the Battle of the Bulge in France and Belgium.

This is a rain or shine event, with visitors encouraged to dress warmly and if possible, bring flashlights. Parking is free and shuttle buses will take visitors to the museum.

Dates and times for these events are:

Wreaths Across America at Finns Point National Cemetery
Saturday, December 13, Noon to 1 p.m.
Finns Point National Cemetery
454 Fort Mott Road
Pennsville, NJ 
(215) 504-5610

Soldiers Christmas
Saturday, December 13, 5 to 9 p.m.
454 Fort Mott Road
Pennsville, NJ 08070
(856) 935-3218

For more about these parks and organizations please visit:

Finns Point National Cemetery
http://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/finnspoint.asp

Fort Mott State Park
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/fortmott.html

Wreaths Across America
http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/

Events at all New Jersey State Parks
http://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/ or visit us at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewJerseyStateParks

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Last Updated: December 8, 2014