Service Personnel

      Earlier this month the Cranford Historical Society remembered Veterans Day with an exhibit honoring those from Cranford who served in past military engagements.  It was a well-presented display that included uniforms, battle ribbons and biographies of some of our soldiers and sailors who served and perished in wars of the last century.

       Hugh Delano is a volunteer with the Historical Society, and he had collected the battle ribbons on display.   He has been collecting these ribbons for more than thirty years and some date back to the Civil War.  As I was chatting with Hugh I noticed a small red, white and blue flag with a star in the middle.  Hugh explained that these flags were displayed in the front windows of homes in Cranford during the WWII.  They told the community that a son, daughter or spouse was actively serving in the military. If there were more than one serviceman from a home, there would be more than one star on the banner.  More than 2,000 Cranford citizens served during that war and 47 lives were lost.  When a serviceman died, the white star on the flag was changed to gold. 

       Hugh said that flags denoting service have begun to reappear in front windows in Cranford, but as yet, I haven’t seen one.

       As we continued to talk Hugh wondered what had happened to the wooden board that stood in front of the municipal building during World War II. The board listed all of Cranford’s young men and women who were on active duty. Next to each name was a star.  Those who had died or been killed during the war had gold stars next to their names. I never saw this wooden board, nor pictures of it, but it got me to thinking.

       At the Community Center there is a bulletin board that profiles Cranford residents who are serving in the armed forces today. When I visit I always take a moment to read about them and say a prayer as I leave. Still, I don’t know how many are serving, where they are stationed, or how long they’ve been there.

       I’ve watched as our community has come together to honor the memory and mourn those who were killed at the World Trade Center.  We have sought to comfort and console those who loved them. I believe that the care and concern we show for others is the best indicator of how we exist as a community.

       To this end, I propose erecting a board listing the names of those from Cranford who are currently serving in our armed forces.  Perhaps we can find out a bit more about the board that stood in front of the municipal building during WWII and use it as a starting point.  We may wish to choose a site other than the municipal building, but the location should have some prominence in town.

       In WWII there was conscription and able-bodied men were expected to serve. Women weren’t drafted, but many volunteered.  Today, all of our military personnel have chosen to serve. They know the risks involved. Each is a special member of our community and we miss them while they’re away.  Rebuilding this board would honor Cranford ‘s military personnel. It would show them and those who love them that we as a community are grateful for their service and pray for their safe return.    

Marc Kelley is a resident of Cranford.  He can be reached at mkelley@eclipse.net.