To the Editor:
For as long as most of us can remember, Memorial Day in Princeton has been commemorated with the annual Spirit of Princeton parade down Nassau Street featuring veterans, Scouts, Little Leaguers, drum brigades, and fire trucks ending with a ceremony in front of the Battle of Princeton Monument. It’s a heartwarming outpouring of community spirit.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we sadly are unable to celebrate Memorial Day this year in the traditional way, but we can still take the opportunity this holiday weekend to mark the occasion by honoring and giving thanks to all the men and women who have fought for the liberties and freedoms we enjoy today.

This year we show our love of community and care for one another by listening to our health officials and heeding their advice. Although some restrictions are slowly being loosened, the virus is just as contagious as it was several weeks ago, and we all have a responsibility to protect the health of those around us. Nurses, doctors, first responders, grocery and pharmacy workers, and all on the front lines of this pandemic are making tremendous sacrifices. Each of us should honor their efforts by taking the threat of COVID-19 seriously, wearing a face covering when in public, and practicing social distancing.

On Memorial Day we are reminded of the many challenges that our country has overcome in the past 250 years. Today we are faced with a different kind of battle, but we can gain strength from knowing that in times of crisis, we have a history of stepping up to meet our shared civic duty. We see it in our Princeton community every day: neighbors helping out neighbors, landlords giving breaks on rents, crafters sewing masks, residents donating to housing and food relief efforts, shoppers supporting our local restaurants and retailers, and all of us following the guidance of health officials to take the necessary steps to reduce the spread of the virus. For this Memorial Day, these quiet acts of generosity serve in their own way as a heartwarming outpouring of community spirit.

Liz Lempert
Mayor