Pledge “The fuel for these lights comes not from electric or coal, or gas, or oil … it comes from your heart, your soul and your spirit, fuel that never runs dry but lives on forever in the name of freedom, and liberty in the name of America.”
These were the words of Lieutenant Commander Steven Rogers USN (ret) and Executive Director of the Association of the United States Navy, an organization formed to protect the rights and benefits of active and former sailors, Coast Guardsmen, Marines and Merchant Marines, home based in Alexandria, Virginia.
Rogers was the principal speaker at the America’s 250th celebration and Pledge of Allegiance ceremony at the Twin Lights historic site Sunday, a celebration originally scheduled for last year but cancelled due to poor weather.
Hosted by the Rev. Joseph J Donnelly Council of the Knights of Columbus, the Knights included all facets of patriotism, church and government in the outdoor event honoring the first public presentation of the Pledge, which occurred at the Twin Lights, in the 19th century.
Participating in the event along with the Father Donnelly Council of the Knights were the Bishop McFaul Assembly, the patriotic fourth degree of the Knights of Columbus, Highlands Mayor Carolyn Broullon and Council President J-Anne Olszewski, Highlands Police Chief Robert Burton and members of the police department and First Aid Squad, the Rev. Christopher Picollo, pastor of the Church of the Nativity and a 4th degree Knight and Chaplain of Council 3187, and the FVW Post 6902 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion Post 143, both of Highlands.
Master of Ceremonies was Mike Napolitano, past grand knight of the Father Donnelly council and the Knight who planned the historical remembrance ceremonies with a team representing each of the organizations involved. Napolitano also praised Maggie Mitchell-Strehl, manager of the Twin Lights historic site, for her assistance in making the ceremonies, which took place outdoors both in front of and behind the Twin Lights museum, possible. “Thanks to your efforts, we successfully captured a patriotic moment in time from 1893 while celebrating the Spirit of 1776,” Napolitano said.
Mayor Broullon said she was speaking from her heart in participating in the patriotic ceremonies honoring the pledge, the historic site in front of the Liberty Pole where the Pledge was first said, and all the organizations who recognized the importance of celebrating such important events. The program was originally planned for last year’s 125th anniversary of Highlands, and Broullon also expressed her pride and affection for the borough and it residences both for their patriotism and their shared love of the borough community.
Council president Olszewski reiterated Broullon’ s pride and thanks, and noted that last year’s rain “can’t wash out Highlands, nor its spunk, strength and spirit. “Like the lighthouse, what is now Highlands has also been standing tall for centuries … whose people shine their light on the best and on the darkest of days for those in need.”
“Those who lived here,” Olszewski continued, “the Lenapes, the early European settlers, the clammers, fisherman, boat builders, the steamers and railroads, all encouraged and introduced more and more folks yearning for just what Highlands is, has and does.”
In representing the parish community of OLPH St Agnes, Muriel Smith, widow of the former councilman who was the founding Grand Knight of the Father Donnelly Council and a longtime Highlands resident, expressed her pride in the parish, community and state for encouraging ceremonies such as this celebration to keep patriotism alive and continue awareness of how all the various organizations working together were able to present this memorable event.
Kevin McKenna, Grand Knight of the Father Donnelly council and Robert Karaczun, field agent for the Knights, also spoke of history during the ceremony honoring the original 1893 Pledge. VFW Post Commandeer Mike Warren led the demonstration of the original pledge and salute at the Liberty Pole facing the Atlantic Ocean, with Louise Welch, Southeast Chapter president of the Columbiettes giving a recitation of the original pledge.
The group processed from the north side of the building to the flagpole on the other side to continue the ceremony where District Marshall of the Knights’ second district John Flynn, Jr. read a history of the pledge and its importance. Kevin Fay, faithful pilot of the Assembly recited the current pledge, which includes the words, “Under God.” and was adopted in the 1950s.
District Deputy of the Knights John Hendrick gave a history of the Pledge of Allegiance song before Courtney Grogan accompanied by her son Bennett and daughter Annie,” sang the Pledge in closing the ceremony.
The VFW Post hosted the crowd for a buffet dinner at the Post Home in Waterwitch following the ceremony.
Following the day’s activities, Napolitano said “I am very proud of what we all accomplished together and very grateful for everyone’s participation and hospitality. From the first planning meeting last year at OLPH for the Highlands 125th Anniversary Mass and Flag dedication festivities to the opening raindrops at this Twin Lights Pledge of Allegiance ceremony and the heartwarming reception at the VFW Post on Saturday (including all of the tumultuous weather in between), our humble tributes have now become something to both cherish and remember and could only have happened right here with each of you…
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