The Cranford VFW Post #335 will be holding its first annual Veterans Day Service on Saturday, November 11, 2023, at the Post Office Plaza in Cranford at 11:00 a.m.
The VFW asks that all veterans from any era, please attend this worthwhile ceremony, which is especially poignant as our National Guard unit from the Westfield Armory prepares to deploy again in early 2024. Attending will be the Post Color Guard, town dignitaries and speakers discussing the significance of this important day.
Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day, which marked the signing of the truce to end Word War I at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. In 1954 Congress changed the name to Veterans Day in order to recognize those millions of men and women who had served in World War II and the Korean War.
It is significant that the event is held at the Post Office Plaza, the site of the Flag Pole originally erected by the citizens of Cranford in 1918 to recognize the veterans of the town who so valiantly served in World War I. The Flagpole was unfortunately left to rust in the mud of the Conservation Center in 2003 in an effort to redesign the triangle in front of the Post Office.
The Cranford VFW was instrumental in starting a committee to refurbish and erect the Flagpole at the original sight. Over $40,000 was raised through a community wide effort and the Flagpole as it now proudly stands was re-dedicated on November 8, 2008, just in time for Veterans Day.
The VFW plans to make this program an annual event and asks for town wide support to help make it a success.
