Hillsborough Draped in Red, White & Blue for Memorial Day Veterans' Recognition and Parade

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ - The township paid tribute to its veterans and their families Saturday with a sit-down breakfast followed by a parade in their honor that concluded at the Garden of Honor at the municipal building.

"In Hillsborough, we are of the opinion that we can never do enough to recognize and honor our veterans and military personnel, those men and women who selflessly dedicated their lives to serve our nation," said Mayor Robert Britting, Jr.

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Army veteran and Hillsborough resident Meghann Valeo served as the 2024 Memorial Day Parade Grand Marshal.

“It's an honor to be Grand Marshal of the Hillsborough 2024 Memorial Day Parade and to be recognized for my service,” said Valeo. “Memorial Day is very meaningful for military families and veterans, as it is a day to honor and remember those men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their country."

The Hillsborough Police Color Guard, escorted by two police motorcycles, led the parade, followed by the Hillsborough High School Marching Band.

The line of march also included veterans, civic groups, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, fire engines, vintage and classic automobiles and restored Army vehicles.

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Following are Britting's remarks delivered at the veterans' breakfast:

Memorial Day… A day set aside to honor our fallen heroes - lest we not forget the commitment made by our service men and women, so willing to lay down their souls for freedom, for our freedom, for the freedom of our great nation to that we say thank you.

In a tribute to our fallen heroes President Ronald Reagan summarizes the true meaning of Memorial Day:

“On Memorial Day we pause to remember those members of our Armed Forces who have preserved our liberty and our freedom by making the Supreme sacrifice, while we Americans traditionally celebrate this day with picnics and parades and while we think of this day as the unofficial beginning of summer, we know it is also a time of somber but inspiring memories; memories of so many courageous Americans who while wearing our country's uniform fought and died so that we could enjoy the blessings of this day so that we could live in peace and treedom.”

As I prepared my remarks for today, I reflected on what message I wanted to leave you all with, a theme so to speak. That message is one of appreciation and thanks - appreciation to those who have gone before us, especially those who served in World War II, including my Great Uncle Jack, who was a machine gunner on B-17 bombers during World War II.

The other message is one of thanks.  I started off my comments by saying thank you, but certainly that does not seem adequate.  So, in that thanks, we also pay a solemn tribute to the men and women who gave us so much up to and including their lives, so that we can gather on a beautiful day like today.

Let us keep their lights burning brightly to ensure their death was not in vain.  On this Memorial Day I ask you to pause and reflect and, most importantly, to share….share your stories not only in honor of your service, but in honor of those who did not make it home.  We also honor the families left behind, broken-hearted when the knock came at the door.

To those families we also show our appreciation and thanks.

As we continue as a great nation, we must protect our military.  We must teach our youth about our history.  We must encourage participation in patriotism.  We must stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, thank a veteran when passing them on the street, and share the stories from generation to generation.  And. we must remain vigilant of terrorists, both domestic and foreign to ensure all was not in vain.

I thank you all for attending today. May God Bless you and may God Bless the USA.

Britting asked that residents observe a moment of silence at 3 p.m. as a remembrance of America's fallen heroes.

Valeo was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in May 2003 and began her military training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, as a Military Police Officer. In 2004, she served as a Platoon Leader for 4th Platoon, 977th MP Company and was stationed at Ft. Riley, Kansas. In late 2004, Valeo was selected to serve as the Direct Support Military Police Platoon Leader for the 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Armored Division. She led a Military Police Platoon of 31 personnel and over $2.5 million in equipment.

Deployed to Baghdad from February 2005-2006, she conducted over 350 combat missions in a dangerous and volatile part of the city. She was also responsible for analyzing the physical security plan at two Iraqi police stations and implementing force protection measures at those stations. Most notably, Valeo led a security detail for the United States Vice President during his visit to Camp Taji, Iraq.

As captain in the United States Army, she was Security Manager for an organization of over 150 personnel, where she trained subordinate units in physical, personnel, and information security. She also served for two years as a captain in the US Army Reserve, where she was selected as the Aide de Camp for a General.

She was awarded the Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Action Badge, and Parachutist Badge.

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