NEW JERSEY STATE FAIR

Military will be fair’s guests of honor

 

from:njherald.com
By Joe Carlson
 Jul 16, 2013
FRANKFORD — The New Jersey State Fair Horse Show Division is honoring the military this year at the horse show’s opening ceremony.
“Every year we try and come up with a new group of people to salute,” former Sussex County Fair Association President Alan Henderson said. “To my knowledge we had never saluted the military before.”
In the past they have saluted emergency medical services and organizations from around the area.
The New Jersey State Fair/Sussex County Farm and Horse Show will be held Aug. 2-11 at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Frankford.
The opening ceremony takes place at 7 p.m. Aug. 2 at the main horse show arena.
The ceremony will include military vehicle, live patriotic music and a flag ceremony by the U.S. Marine Corps with an oversized American flag, akin to those used at professional sporting events.
“We want to recognize all military,” Henderson said. “All active and non-active members get into the fair all week for free with their military card. We want them to come out and be honored.”
Henderson also encourages all area residents to come out and be part of the ceremony.
“We will have the High Point Harmonizers and the Rory O’Moore Pipe and Drum Band playing patriotic songs and we encourage everyone to come, wear red, white and blue, and sing along with the music,” Henderson said.
The Harmonizers will also sing the national anthem.
All military veterans will be asked to stand and be honored, which Henderson admits may pose a problem.
“We’ll ask them to stand to be recognized, but everyone is going to be standing and cheering. But the important thing is that they are recognized.”
Henderson added, “We’re trying to recognize them for all the effort and time they put in. We’re going to be here enjoying the fair and many are overseas fighting for our lives and their own.”
The ceremony will close with the Rory O’Moore Pipe and Drum Band playing taps to honor all of America’s fallen heroes.
“Sometimes we just lose thought about what these men and women go through to keep us safe,” Henderson said. “They need to be recognized.”