During a Veterans Day ceremony held yesterday at the veterans memorial at Alliger Park in Hopewell Township, Menendez, D-N.J., said that honoring veterans is more than just remembering to say "thank you," but also "delivering on a promise of a grateful nation in providing all those who served with the health care and services they need when they come home." He said that people must remember that meeting the needs of every veteran is a lifetime obligation.

Keynote speaker Brig. Gen. James Grant, chief of the Joint Staff of the N.J. National Guard, also honored his fellow service members as he spoke on behalf of veterans. "I am an American soldier," he said. "I can think of no better place to be today than amongst veterans, elected officials and community leaders who have taken valuable time out of their schedules to attend a ceremony that honors our true American heroes "" our veterans."

Musical selections such as "Amazing Grace" and "God Bless America" were rendered by the Hopewell Valley Central High School Marching Black and Gold Band and a 21-gun salute was conducted by members of the Golf Battery 3/14 Battalion, United States Marine Corps.

During the ceremony, 38 service men and women were honored with the unveiling of bricks that were placed in commemoration of their service. Cpl. Edward Blackwell, who served in World War II and who was among those who had a brick placed in his honor, said that he felt very honored and that the ceremony was the first that he attended in Hopewell.

Col. Kenneth Baker, president of the Hopewell Valley Veterans Association, said the memorial offers "an opportunity for the community to come together and realize what veterans do to keep our country free," he said.