JACKSON, NJ – Last Saturday, Jackson Township Mayor Michael Reina hosted his annual Wounded Warriors parade in conjunction with a full day of food, fun and shooting at the range provided by the Central Jersey Pistol and Rifle Club.
The parade route started at the Jackson Justice Complex, then headed down West Veterans Highway until Stump Tavern Road.
Along the road were signs, plenty of them.
“We love our troops!”
“You are so brave, thank you!”
“Thank you for your sacrifice!”
“Vote for Flemming, Kern and O’niell”
Along the route, overnight, about a dozen campaign signs for the campaign headed by mayoral candidate Marty Flemming popped up along the roadway. It was distasteful to say the least. For a veteran who was not disabled in combat, but one who served our country in the United States Marine Corps at the age of 17, it was downright disrespectful.
The next day, the signs along the route were all gone, vanished. They were relocated to other spots around town as new signs popped up on the public right of way of several major roads in town after being removed from the Wounded Warrior parade route.
It gets worse. I spent the entire day at the event, meeting with fellow veterans. They were treated to a relaxing day at the range where they shot, exchanged stories, shot the sh-t, and reconnected with each other.
Elderly disabled veterans were joined by the walking wounded of the twenty-year war on terrorism. None of the candidates from the Flemming team even bothered to show up to the event. The only elected official to show up at the Central Jersey Pistol and Rifle Range was Mayor Michael Reina, who hosted a group of Marine Corps veterans as his personal guests.
Signs during campaigns are always over the top, but this weekend’s display was probably the worst case we’ve seen in years here in Jackson.
We can do better.