‘Thank a Veteran Today’

A half-dozen people gathered Friday at Moorestown’s to pay tribute to the town’s, and the nation’s, veterans.

Moorestown’s ran the short ceremony in front of the memorial honoring Moorestonians who died in military service.

“Fewer than 10 percent of Americans can claim the title of veteran,” said Gene Clark, the American Legion post commander. “While the great military phrase ‘uncommon valor was a common virtue’ has been so often repeated that it risks becoming a cliché, it is no less true.”

Everyone can mark Veterans Day in a simple way, Clark said.

“Thank a veteran today.”

But, he added, the country should reflect on how it treats veterans, some who suffer catastrophic physical and mental injuries from their service.

“We must ask ourselves as a nation, ‘Are we serving veterans even half as well as they served us?’” Clark asked.

The ceremony also included reading the names of Moorestown’s fallen from World War I through Operation Iraqi Freedom, 41 in all.

Click above to view pictures from Friday’s Veterans Day ceremony in Moorestown.