At the latest Township Council meeting, members of the Livingston Committee for Diversity and Inclusion (LCDI) asked for permission to celebrate Women Veterans Appreciation Day at Memorial Park on the Oval.In the past, our community’s local veterans groups have specifically asked that the only events held at Memorial Park be ones honoring veterans who did not return home from war. Within the memorial area, displayed for all to see at the entrance to the Oval, are plaques paying respect to the Livingston residents who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country.Respectful ceremonies are typically held here on Memorial Day and Veterans Day, as we honored those service members, and all the men and women who have fought for their country. Some of those individuals returned home, while others died in the line of duty. This past Tuesday, there was a brief service at the park to mark Vietnam War Veterans Day. As always, it was a lovely and meaningful gathering of our veterans, township officials, and members of the public, all present to honor those who served in that war.The veterans have asked that tributes such as these be the sole purpose of that area of the Oval; they want Memorial Park to be treated the way they see it, as a cemetery deserving of sacred respect. They have also requested that only four flags fly at the park: the American flag, the Missing in Action flag, and the flags of New Jersey and Livingston.We certainly think that Women Veterans Day fits this bill. There are countless women who have fought for this country and made the ultimate sacrifice as a result. On that state-recognized holiday, we cannot think of a more fitting location to honor them. Based on their own explanation when they first approached the Council about the topic in 2018, it seems like exactly the type of ceremony Livingston’s veterans groups are looking to hold at Memorial Park.We know this is a very touchy subject, but we hope that there is an understanding to be reached between the LCDI and Livingston’s various veteran’s groups. Both sides, we are sure, are coming from a good place. In lieu of a compromise between the two, we hope our Township Council will step up and make the right decision, as is within its power to do.
