World War II Veteran Headlines Hopatcong Memorial Day Ceremony

HOPATCONG, NJ - The Borough of Hopatcong will remember the fallen at its “Land of the Free, Home of the Brave,” Memorial Day ceremony at Veterans Field on Saturday at 11 a.m.

In a Nixle alert the borough issued on Friday, officials clarified for residents there would be no parade for Saturday's lineup. Borough Administrator Ron Tappan told Patch on Friday, with the changes in COVID guidelines in the middle of the holiday weekend, it presented a challenge to organize the parade at the last minute.

During the ceremony, the borough will however highlight its special “Hometown Hero Banner Program."

At Hopatcong’s last council meeting on May 19, Councilman Bradley Hoferkamp, who oversees the banner program, announced “95-year-young” U.S. Army Veteran Robert Kline, who served in World War II - a veteran honored in on one of the banners on Hopatchung Rd - will be in attendance.

Please come out and say ‘thank you,’” Hoferkamp urged at the meeting.

The banners will be up from Memorial Day until Veterans Day.

In a phone interview with Patch, Borough Administrator Ron Tappan said the streetscape project in the River Styx area has added 33 more street lights, which leaves room for more banners.

Click here to purchase a banner to honor a current or former Hopatcong military veteran.

Questions or comments about this story? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.